abuse

1 to inflict physical or emotional harm upon

if you abuse your pet, he will always have an ugly disposition

Synonyms of abuse

brutalize, bully, ill-treat, ill-use, kick around, maltreat, manhandle, mess over [slang], mishandle, mistreat, misuse

Words Related to abuse

molest, outrage, violate

harass, harm, hurt, injure, oppress, persecute, torment, torture

burn, sandbag, victimize, wrong

beat (up), mess (up), rough (up), work (over)

Phrases Synonymous with abuse

take apart

Near Antonyms of abuse

care (for), cherish, foster, nurture

baby, cater (to), coddle, favor, gratify, humor, indulge, mollycoddle, pamper, spoil

2 to criticize harshly and usually publicly

a demanding, difficult patient who constantly abuses the nurses and aides

Synonyms of abuse

assail, attack, bash, belabor, blast, castigate, excoriate, jump (on), lambaste (or lambast), potshot, savage, scathe, slam, trash, vituperate

Words Related to abuse

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)

Phrases Synonymous with abuse

beat up on, light into, sail into, tie into

Near Antonyms of abuse

acclaim, commend, compliment, hail, laud, praise

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

Synonyms of abuse

misapply, misemploy, misuse, pervert, profane, prostitute

Words Related to abuse

degrade, twist

mismanage

corrupt, debase, desecrate

Near Antonyms of abuse

apply, employ, use, utilize

respect

4 to take unfair advantage of

abused his parents' trust, pilfering small amounts from them that he hoped they wouldn't notice

Synonyms of abuse

capitalize (on), cash in (on), exploit, impose (on or upon), leverage, milk, pimp, play (on or upon), use, work

Words Related to abuse

jerk around, manipulate, mistreat

bleed, cheat, fleece, overcharge, skin, soak, stick

commercialize, commodify

Phrases Synonymous with abuse

trade on, walk on

Synonyms and Antonyms of abuse

WORD OF THE DAY

jeopardize