# abusiveness

CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abusiveness
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

the quality of being cruel or rude to other people. It describes a behavior that is mean or aggressive.

For teachers: the quality or state of being cruel, harsh, or unkind in behavior or speech.

## Examples

- The manager's abusiveness made the office atmosphere very unpleasant.
- The court ruled that the abusiveness of the company's marketing tactics violated consumer protection laws.
- While the physical damage was significant, the psychological abusiveness of the situation left the survivors struggling to rebuild their sense of safety and trust.

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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.