ABUSES

/əˈbjuːsɪz/

Scrabble

WWF

A(1) B(3) U(1) S(1) E(1) S(1)

NWL/TWL ✓ Collins ✓ WWF ✓

Definition

/əˈbjuːsɪz/

noun

Improper treatment or usage; application to a wrong or bad purpose; an unjust, corrupt or wrongful practice or custom.
“All abuse, whether physical, verbal, psychological or sexual, is bad.”
Misuse; improper use; perversion.
A delusion; an imposture; misrepresentation; deception.
Coarse, insulting speech; abusive language; language that unjustly or angrily vilifies.
Catachresis.

verb

To put to a wrong use; to misapply; to use improperly; to misuse; to use for a wrong purpose or end; to pervert
“He abused his authority.”
To injure; to maltreat; to hurt; to treat with cruelty, especially repeatedly.
To attack with coarse language; to insult; to revile; malign; to speak in an offensive manner to or about someone; to disparage.
To imbibe a drug for a purpose other than it was intended; to intentionally take more of a drug than was prescribed for recreational reasons; to take illegal drugs habitually.
To violate; defile; to rape.