ENGLISH
REFERENCE

abused

adj.
US //əbˈjuzd// UK //ɐbjˈuːsd// abused
  1. 1 victim of maltreatment (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    describes a person or animal that has been treated cruelly or violently over a long time.

    having been subjected to physical, emotional, or sexual maltreatment, often within a domestic or institutional context.

    Example

    The charity works hard to find new homes for abused dogs and cats.

    Example

    The social worker specialised in providing therapeutic support for abused children who had been removed from high-risk domestic environments.
  2. 2 misused or overused (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    describes something that has been used too much or in the wrong way.

    subjected to excessive or improper use; often applied to substances, systems, or linguistic terms.

    Example

    The word 'genius' is so abused today that it has lost its real meaning.

    Example

    The report highlighted how the emergency funding was abused by several departments to cover unrelated administrative deficits.
  3. 3 deceived (adj.)
    C2 Proficiency Archaic Literary

    tricked or lied to by someone.

    pertaining to a state of being deluded or deceived by false appearances or lies.

    Example

    The poor man was abused by a false promise of gold.

    Example

    In the classic play, the protagonist remains tragically abused by his rival's clever lies until the final act.

    Teacher's tip

    This sense is archaic; modern speakers use 'deceived' or 'misled' instead.
Word family

Last updated June 19, 2026