WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
a•buse /v. əˈbyuz; n. əˈbyus/USA pronunciation
v., a•bused, a•bus•ing, n.
v. [~ + object]
n.
a•bu•sive•ly, adv.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026v. [~ + object]
- to use wrongly or improperly;
misuse:to abuse authority. - to treat in a harmful or injurious way: to abuse a horse by making it run too far.
- to speak insultingly or harshly to or about:to abuse someone over the telephone.
- to mistreat physically or sexually.
n.
- wrong, improper, or excessive use;
misuse: [uncountable]drug abuse.[countable]That act was an abuse of power. - [uncountable] harsh, coarse, insulting language.
- harsh treatment:[uncountable]The hostages suffered abuse during their captivity.
- [uncountable] physical or sexual mistreatment.
a•bu•sive•ly, adv.
a•buse
(v. ə byo̅o̅z′;n. ə byo̅o̅s′),USA pronunciation v., a•bused, a•bus•ing, n.
v.t.
n.
a•bus•a•ble
(ə byo̅o̅′zə bəl),USA pronunciation adj.
a•bus′er, n.
v.t.
- to use wrongly or improperly;
misuse:to abuse one's authority. - to treat in a harmful, injurious, or offensive way:to abuse a horse; to abuse one's eyesight.
- to speak insultingly, harshly, and unjustly to or about;
revile;
malign. - to commit sexual assault upon.
- [Obs.]to deceive or mislead.
- abuse oneself, to masturbate.
n.
- wrong or improper use;
misuse:the abuse of privileges. - harshly or coarsely insulting language:The officer heaped abuse on his men.
- bad or improper treatment;
maltreatment:The child was subjected to cruel abuse. - a corrupt or improper practice or custom:the abuses of a totalitarian regime.
- rape or sexual assault.
- [Obs.]deception.
- Middle French abus or Latin abūsus
- Latin abūsus misuse, wasting, equivalent. to abūt(ī) to use up, misuse (ab- ab- + ūtī to use) + -tus suffix of verb, verbal action; (noun, nominal) late Middle English abus
- Middle French abuser, verb, verbal derivative of abus
- (verb, verbal) late Middle English abusen 1400–50
- 1. misapply. 2. ill-use, maltreat, injure, harm, hurt. 3. vilify, vituperate, berate, scold; slander, defame, calumniate, traduce. 7. misapplication. 8. slander, aspersion. Abuse, censure, invective all mean strongly expressed disapproval. Abuse implies an outburst of harsh and scathing words against another (often one who is defenseless):abuse directed against an opponent.Censure implies blame, adverse criticism, or hostile condemnation:severe censure of acts showing bad judgment.Invective applies to strong but formal denunciation in speech or print, often in the public interest:invective against graft.
- 3. 8. praise.
'abuser' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):