abuse

/əˈbjuːs/ · noun

Meaning

Improper treatment or usage; application to a wrong or bad purpose; an unjust, corrupt or wrongful practice or custom.
Misuse; improper use; perversion.
A delusion; an imposture; misrepresentation; deception.
Coarse, insulting speech; abusive language; language that unjustly or angrily vilifies.
Catachresis.
Physical maltreatment; injury; cruel treatment.
To put to a wrong use; to misapply; to use improperly; to misuse; to use for a wrong purpose or end; to pervert
To injure; to maltreat; to hurt; to treat with cruelty, especially repeatedly.
To attack with coarse language; to insult; to revile; malign; to speak in an offensive manner to or about someone; to disparage.
To imbibe a drug for a purpose other than it was intended; to intentionally take more of a drug than was prescribed for recreational reasons; to take illegal drugs habitually.
To violate; defile; to rape.
Misrepresent; adulterate.

No prose etymology has been added yet.

No ancestor words have been linked yet.

No descendant words have been linked yet.