əˈbyüsiv, -ēv also -üz- adjective
Etymology: Middle French abusif, from Late Latin abusivus, from Latin abusus + -ivus -ive
1.
a. : characterized by wrong or improper use or action : constituting an abuse : perverted
abusive financial practices
b. archaic : catachrestic
c. obsolete : tending to deceive : fraudulent , cheating
an abusive treaty — Francis Bacon
2.
a. : employing harsh insulting language
an abusive spectator
: characterized by or serving for abuse : scurrilous
abusive jibes
b. : physically injurious : tending to damage or weaken : rough
tools made for abusive use
• abu·sive·ly adverb
• abu·sive·ness noun -es