1
as in insults
harsh insulting language
hometown fans hurled abuse at the visiting team
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in misuses
incorrect or improper use
naturally the furniture had received a lot of abuse from the 10 kids in the family
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in bullies
to inflict physical or emotional harm upon
if you abuse your pet, he will always have an ugly disposition
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in attacks
to criticize harshly and usually publicly
a demanding, difficult patient who constantly abuses the nurses and aides
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in perverts
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in exploits
to take unfair advantage of
abused his parents' trust, pilfering small amounts from them that he hoped they wouldn't notice
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of abuses
Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 25 Apr. 2026
This story was originally published by ProPublica, a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power.
—Craig R. McCoy, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power.
—Anna Clark, ProPublica, 24 Apr. 2026
The protection of sources gains special importance in the case of whistleblowers, in which investigative reporters and sources collaborate to reveal abuses of power.
—Florian Wintterlin, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Apr. 2026
Speaking to journalists at the Bata prison, Equatorial Guinea Justice Minister Reginaldo Biyogo Ndong denied the rights abuses and said the country’s prison and justice systems respect international human rights laws.
—Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
Francis’ aim was to give prisoners hope and to remind them the church was with them, while also shining a spotlight on judicial abuses, overcrowding and other injustices.
—ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
Thursday’s events — with protesters dispersed, journalists assaulted and prisoners reporting abuses — underscored the gap between the regime’s messaging and conditions on the ground.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026
Schacher said some of the countries have records of human rights abuses and corruption.
—Daniella Silva, NBC news, 8 Apr. 2026
Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
Its leader, the president, abuses power, hurts the innocent, and mocks the dead before their families have even begun to grieve.
—Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2026
During the tantrum, the child verbally abuses the parent and also destroys property within the home.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 15 Mar. 2026
The insurer said during a Senate committee hearing that Nutex abuses the independent dispute resolution process, which was intended by the federal No Surprises Act to be a last resort in cases where providers and health insurers can’t agree on what should be paid for out-of-network care.
—Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 5 Mar. 2026
Malware often abuses them to take control of your device.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 Feb. 2026
As a child, Heathcliff’s main tormenter is Cathy’s brother, Hindley, who physically abuses Heathcliff and forces him to work in the stables as a servant.
—Becky Little, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
In the final video, Pierce can be seen shirtless, with bruises showing, while Ruffin verbally abuses him, Facklam said.
—Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2026
In the film, Victor emotionally abuses the Creature.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 7 Nov. 2025
Noun
We were supposed to be the ones who were preventing a lot of these abuses.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 25 Apr. 2026
This story was originally published by ProPublica, a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power.
—Craig R. McCoy, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power.
—Anna Clark, ProPublica, 24 Apr. 2026
The protection of sources gains special importance in the case of whistleblowers, in which investigative reporters and sources collaborate to reveal abuses of power.
—Florian Wintterlin, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Apr. 2026
Speaking to journalists at the Bata prison, Equatorial Guinea Justice Minister Reginaldo Biyogo Ndong denied the rights abuses and said the country’s prison and justice systems respect international human rights laws.
—Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
Francis’ aim was to give prisoners hope and to remind them the church was with them, while also shining a spotlight on judicial abuses, overcrowding and other injustices.
—ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
Thursday’s events — with protesters dispersed, journalists assaulted and prisoners reporting abuses — underscored the gap between the regime’s messaging and conditions on the ground.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026
Schacher said some of the countries have records of human rights abuses and corruption.
—Daniella Silva, NBC news, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
Under my watch, anyone who abuses wildlife in Florida will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
Its leader, the president, abuses power, hurts the innocent, and mocks the dead before their families have even begun to grieve.
—Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2026
During the tantrum, the child verbally abuses the parent and also destroys property within the home.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 15 Mar. 2026
The insurer said during a Senate committee hearing that Nutex abuses the independent dispute resolution process, which was intended by the federal No Surprises Act to be a last resort in cases where providers and health insurers can’t agree on what should be paid for out-of-network care.
—Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 5 Mar. 2026
Malware often abuses them to take control of your device.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 Feb. 2026
As a child, Heathcliff’s main tormenter is Cathy’s brother, Hindley, who physically abuses Heathcliff and forces him to work in the stables as a servant.
—Becky Little, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
In the final video, Pierce can be seen shirtless, with bruises showing, while Ruffin verbally abuses him, Facklam said.
—Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2026
In the film, Victor emotionally abuses the Creature.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 7 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abuses
Noun
-
The president has spent a decade calling his rivals communists and traitors, among other hyperbolic insults.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
-
According to Politico, the conversation was nothing but a tirade of insults.—
Tom Jurkowsky,
Baltimore Sun,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There are state laws concerning specific misuses of AI but some legislators are attempting to put broader guardrails in place.—
KATHERINE LIN,
ABC News,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Second, that the occasional misuses of that discretion would be few, far between, and manageable by the court system through robust testing and oversight.—
Paul Rosenzweig,
The Atlantic,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Pledge is meaningless if the president of the United States lies to us, divides us, bullies us and steals from us.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Collective action deters bullies Harvard never stood alone.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
On Earth, the dangerous terrorist group known as the Wolfpack attacks major landmarks, such as Big Ben.—
Sergio Pereira,
Space.com,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Nektar Therapeutics said Monday that extended treatment with its experimental drug, called rezpeg, promoted greater hair growth in people with severe alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition that attacks hair follicles.—
Adam Feuerstein,
STAT,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Lockwood exploits that conundrum, and even takes part in it.—
Joshua Minsoo Kim,
Pitchfork,
28 Apr. 2026
-
If anything looks off, a professional inspection is a smart investment — far cheaper than an emergency roof repair after a storm exploits an existing weak spot.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
After less than eight months on the job, Kent resigned to protest the war and has since gone public with blistering criticisms of the administration.—
Tom Nichols,
The Atlantic,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Johnson has pushed back on Witzburg's criticisms, saying her time as inspector general has politicized the office, damaging its independence and credibility.—
Chris Tye,
CBS News,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The retrospection tortures her.—
Alexandra Rockey Fleming,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Later, in one of the movie's most satisfying scenes, Millie locks Andrew in the attic and tortures him by loudly smashing each plate.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Hudson’s character plays dirty and slams Ness’ hand at tipoff.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
-
On stage, Cameron Winter leads an overall enthralling performance, as the group slams out songs back-to-back with little to say in between; no shenanigans, just a top-notch show.—
Mikael Wood,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abuses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abuses. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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