Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb abuse

4 senses of abuse

Sense 1
mistreat, maltreat, abuse, ill-use, step, ill-treat -- (treat badly; "This boss abuses his workers"; "She is always stepping on others to get ahead")
       => treat, handle, do by -- (interact in a certain way; "Do right by her"; "Treat him with caution, please"; "Handle the press reporters gently")

Sense 2
pervert, misuse, abuse -- (change the inherent purpose or function of something; "Don't abuse the system"; "The director of the factory misused the funds intended for the health care of his workers")
       => use, expend -- (use up, consume fully; "The legislature expended its time on school questions")

Sense 3
abuse, clapperclaw, blackguard, shout -- (use foul or abusive language towards; "The actress abused the policeman who gave her a parking ticket"; "The angry mother shouted at the teacher")
       => attack, round, assail, lash out, snipe, assault -- (attack in speech or writing; "The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker")

Sense 4
abuse -- (use wrongly or improperly or excessively; "Her husband often abuses alcohol"; "while she was pregnant, she abused drugs")
       => use, expend -- (use up, consume fully; "The legislature expended its time on school questions")

Antonyms of adj abused

2 senses of abused

Sense 1
abused -- (used improperly or excessively especially drugs; "an abused substance")

INDIRECT (VIA misused) -> used -- (employed in accomplishing something; "the principle of surprise is the most used and misused of all the principles of war"- H.H.Arnold & I.C.Eaker)

Sense 2
abused (vs. unabused), ill-treated, maltreated, mistreated -- (subjected to cruel treatment; "an abused wife")

unabused (vs. abused) -- (not physically abused; treated properly)

Similarity of adj abused

2 senses of abused

Sense 1
abused -- (used improperly or excessively especially drugs; "an abused substance")
       => misused (vs. used) -- (used incorrectly or carelessly or for an improper purpose; "misused words are often laughable but one weeps for misused talents")

Sense 2
abused (vs. unabused), ill-treated, maltreated, mistreated -- (subjected to cruel treatment; "an abused wife")
       => battered -- (exhibiting symptoms resulting from repeated physical and emotional injury; "a battered child"; "the battered woman syndrome")

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