Definitions for abuse

• Definition
• Anagrams (55)

abuse a·buse

Spelling: [verb uh-byooz; noun uh

IPA: /verb əˈbyuz; noun əˈbyus/

Abuse is a 5 letter English word. It's valid Scrabble word worth 7 points. It's valid Words with friends word worth 9 points.

You can make 55 anagrams from letters in abuse (abesu).

Definitions for abuse

noun

1. wrong or improper use; misuse:
2. harshly or coarsely insulting language:
3. bad or improper treatment; maltreatment:
4. a corrupt or improper practice or custom:
5. rape or sexual assault.
6. Obsolete. deception.

Idioms

1. abuse oneself, to masturbate.

verb (used with object)

1. to use wrongly or improperly; misuse:
2. to treat in a harmful, injurious, or offensive way:
3. to speak insultingly, harshly, and unjustly to or about; revile; malign.
4. to commit sexual assault upon.
5. Obsolete. to deceive or mislead.

Origin of abuse

1400-50; (v.) late Middle English abusen Middle French abuser, verbal derivative of abus Latin abūsus misuse, wasting, equivalent to abūt(ī) to use up, misuse (ab- ab-

Examples for abuse

These were cops who had worked the protests and suffered the accompanying verbal taunts and abuse.

Law is essential to freedom because it safeguards citizens against misconduct and abuse.

In 2008, he was arrested for reporting about the abuse of prisoners in Syrian jails.

That would have been an abuse of our treaties, and unworthy of your character.

Let us rejoice that one such partisan was now at hand to stem the torrent of abuse.

Perhaps one of the most egregious examples is the abuse of civil asset forfeiture laws.

Oh, Whizzer, you poor fellow, why do you let him abuse you so?

Yes, they have good times, their freedom is large, and they do not abuse it.

When they get someone high profile, like the governor [Bob McDonnell] or like Teresa, they will abuse their positions.

Abandonment and abuse are not acts of God, they are failures of love.