Abuse — Defs

01 v. t. To put to a wrong use; to misapply; to misuse; to put to a bad use; to use for a wrong purpose or end; to pervert; as, to abuse inherited g…

imp. & p. p. Abused; p. pr. & vb. n. Abusing

1.
To put to a wrong use; to misapply; to misuse; to put to a bad use; to use for a wrong purpose or end; to pervert; as, to abuse inherited gold; to make an excessive use of; as, to abuse one's authority.
“This principle (if one may so abuse the word) shoots rapidly into popularity.” — Froude.
2.
To use ill; to maltreat; to act injuriously to; to punish or to tax excessively; to hurt; as, to abuse prisoners, to abuse one's powers, one's patience.
3.
To revile; to reproach coarsely; to disparage.
“The . . . tellers of news abused the general.” — Macaulay.
4.
To dishonor.
5.
To violate; to ravish.
6.
To deceive; to impose on.[Obs.]
“Their eyes red and staring, cozened with a moist cloud, and abused by a double object.” — Jer. Taylor.

Syn. To maltreat; injure; revile; reproach; vilify; vituperate; asperse; traduce; malign.

02 n. Improper treatment or use; application to a wrong or bad purpose; misuse; as, an abuse of our natural powers; an abuse of civil rights, or …

1.
Improper treatment or use; application to a wrong or bad purpose; misuse; as, an abuse of our natural powers; an abuse of civil rights, or of privileges or advantages; an abuse of language.
“Liberty may be endangered by the abuses of liberty, as well as by the abuses of power.” — Madison.
2.
Physical ill treatment; injury.
3.
A corrupt practice or custom; offense; crime; fault; as, the abuses in the civil service.
“Abuse after disappeared without a struggle..” — Macaulay.
4.
Vituperative words; coarse, insulting speech; abusive language; virulent condemnation; reviling.
“The two parties, after exchanging a good deal of abuse, came to blows.” — Macaulay.
5.
Violation; rape; as, abuse of a female child.[Obs.]
“Or is it some abuse, and no such thing?” — Shak.

Phrases & compounds

Abuse of distress — a wrongful using of an animal or chattel distrained, by the distrainer.

Syn. Invective; contumely; reproach; scurrility; insult; opprobrium.

-- Abuse, Invective. Abuse is generally prompted by anger, and vented in harsh and unseemly words. It is more personal and coarse than invective. Abuse generally takes place in private quarrels; invective in writing or public discussions. Invective may be conveyed in refined language and dictated by indignation against what is blameworthy. C. J. Smith.