I. ə-ˈbyüs noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French abus, from Latin abusus, from abuti to consume, from ab- + uti to use
Date: 15th century
1. : a corrupt practice or custom
2. : improper or excessive use or treatment : misuse
drug abuse
abuse of tranquilizers
3. obsolete : a deceitful act : deception
4. : language that condemns or vilifies usually unjustly, intemperately, and angrily
5. : physical maltreatment
Synonyms:
abuse , vituperation , invective , obloquy , billingsgate mean vehemently expressed condemnation or disapproval. abuse , the most general term, usually implies the anger of the speaker and stresses the harshness of the language
scathing verbal abuse
vituperation implies fluent and sustained abuse
a torrent of vituperation
invective implies a comparable vehemence but suggests greater verbal and rhetorical skill and may apply to a public denunciation
blistering political invective
obloquy suggests defamation and consequent shame and disgrace
subjected to obloquy and derision
billingsgate implies practiced fluency and variety of profane or obscene abuse
directed a stream of billingsgate at the cabdriver
II. ə-ˈbyüz transitive verb
( abused ; abus·ing )
Date: 15th century
1.
a. : to put to a wrong or improper use
abuse a privilege
b. : to use excessively
abuse alcohol
also : to use without medical justification
abuse ing painkillers
2. obsolete : deceive
3. : to use so as to injure or damage : maltreat
4. : to attack in words : revile
• abus·able -ˈbyü-zə-bəl adjective
• abus·er noun