Thesaurus
abuse
verb
Synonyms and Antonyms of ABUSE
1
to inflict physical or emotional harm upon <if you abuse your pet, he will always have an ugly disposition>
Synonyms brutalize, bully, ill-treat, ill-use, kick around, maltreat, manhandle, mess over [slang], mishandle, mistreat, misuse
Related Words molest, outrage, violate; harass, harm, hurt, injure, oppress, persecute, torment, torture; burn, sandbag, victimize, wrong; beat (up), mess (up), rough (up), work (over)
Phrases take apart
2
to criticize harshly and usually publicly <a demanding, difficult patient who constantly abuses the nurses and aides>
Synonyms abuse, assail, bash, belabor, blast, castigate, excoriate, jump (on), lambaste (or lambast), potshot, savage, scathe, slam, trash, vituperate
Related Words berate, harangue, harass, harry, revile, scold, whip; blaspheme, curse, execrate, imprecate, profane; affront, insult, slur; asperse, bad-mouth, belittle, blackguard, disparage, put down; libel, slander, traduce, vilify; chastise, chide, criticize, lace (into), rebuke, reprimand, reproof; fulminate, lash (out)
3
to put to a bad or improper use <if you abuse your baseball bat by using it to hammer nails, don't expect it to last long>
4
to take unfair advantage of <abused his parents' trust, pilfering small amounts from them that he hoped they wouldn't notice>
Synonyms abuse, capitalize (on), cash in (on), impose (on or upon), leverage, milk, pimp, play (on or upon), use, work
Related Words jerk around, manipulate, mistreat; bleed, cheat, fleece, overcharge, skin, soak, stick; commercialize, commodify
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