abuses
n. C / Un. cruel or violent treatment of someone, or the wrong use of power or a system. It often refers to situations where someone is hurt or a rule is broken for personal gain.
n. the improper, cruel, or violent treatment of a person; also refers to the corrupt or incorrect use of power, systems, or substances. Often appears in the plural to denote specific instances of misconduct or maltreatment.
The government promised to investigate human rights abuses.
The new law aims to prevent abuses of the social welfare system by closing several legal loopholes.
Historical accounts reveal systemic abuses of authority within the colonial administration, where local officials often exploited their positions for personal enrichment at the expense of the populace.
Countable when referring to specific instances or types of misconduct; uncountable when referring to the general concept of maltreatment.