# abuse

/əbˈjus/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abuse
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. cruel treatment

noun · CEFR B2

cruel or violent treatment of a person or animal.

For teachers: the physical, emotional, or sexual maltreatment of a person or animal. Uncountable in a general sense but often countable when referring to specific instances.

- The charity works to protect children from physical and emotional abuse.
- The investigation uncovered a systemic pattern of abuse within the institution that had been ignored by management for decades.

### 2. misuse of something

noun · CEFR B2

using something in a wrong or harmful way, like power or drugs.

For teachers: the improper or excessive use of something, particularly substances or positions of authority.

- The reporter exposed the politician's abuse of power during the election.
- Public health initiatives are focusing on the long-term effects of substance abuse in rural communities.

### 3. insulting words

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

rude, angry, or insulting words said to someone.

For teachers: offensive, insulting, or vilifying language directed at a person. Usually uncountable.

- The referee had to stop the game because of the verbal abuse from the fans.
- The witness described a torrent of racial abuse directed at the shopkeeper during the confrontation.

### 4. to treat cruelly

verb · CEFR B2

to treat a person or animal in a cruel or violent way.

For teachers: to subject a person or animal to physical or emotional harm. Transitive verb requiring a direct object.

- He was arrested after neighbours reported that he was abusing his dog.
- The regime was accused of abusing political prisoners to extract confessions before their trials.

### 5. to misuse

verb · CEFR B2

to use something wrongly or too much, especially for your own advantage.

For teachers: to use something improperly or for a wrong purpose; to exploit a privilege or substance.

- You should not abuse the trust your manager has placed in you.
- The company was fined for abusing its dominant market position to crush smaller competitors.

### 6. to insult

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to speak to someone in a very rude or insulting way.

For teachers: to attack someone verbally with offensive or disparaging language.

- The angry customer began to abuse the staff when they refused his refund.
- The protesters were seen abusing passers-by who refused to join their demonstration.

## Examples

- The government is working to prevent the abuse of power.
- The charity provides a safe space for children who have suffered physical or emotional abuse at home.
- While the report focused on physical safety, it also highlighted the systemic abuse of administrative loopholes that allowed the corruption to go undetected for years.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.