noun#4,433 by frequency

abuse

/əˈbjuːs/

Improper treatment or usage; application to a wrong or bad purpose; an unjust, corrupt or wrongful practice or custom; Misuse

Meanings

1
Improper treatment or usage; application to a wrong or bad purpose; an unjust, corrupt or wrongful practice or custom
- It's an abuse of power.
  Tatoeba · CK · CC BY 2.0 FR
- That's an abuse of authority.
  Tatoeba · CK · CC BY 2.0 FR
2
Misuse; improper use; perversion
3
Coarse, insulting speech; abusive language; language that unjustly or angrily vilifies
4
Physical maltreatment; injury; cruel treatment
5
A delusion; an imposture; misrepresentation; deceptionrare
6
Catachresisrare
7
Violation; defilement; rape; forcing of undesired sexual activity by one person on another, often on a repeated basisrare

verbnot in the study set

/əˈbjuːz/

To put to a wrong use; to misapply; to use improperly; to use for a wrong purpose or end

1
To put to a wrong use; to misapply; to use improperly; to use for a wrong purpose or end; to pervert
- The king abused his power.
  Tatoeba · CK · CC BY 2.0 FR
- You are abusing your power!
  Tatoeba · VirtuOZ · CC BY 2.0 FR
2
To injure; to maltreat; to hurt; to treat with cruelty, especially repeatedly
3
To attack with coarse language; to insult; to revile; malign; to speak in an offensive manner to or about someone; to disparage
4
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