abuse

[əˈbjuːz]

Definition:
1. Cruel or inhumane treatment.
2. The use of something in a way that is wrong or harmful.
3. Improper or excessive use.

Use 'abuse' in a sentence:

• 1. All the children had been physically and emotionally abused.
• 2. Quick-thinking TV bosses bleeped out the abuse.
• 3. Throughout the book Liu speaks of the abuse of Party power.
• 4. It's natural to feel helpless against such abuse.
• 5. I don't know why the guy yelled at me. And as for going back there, certainly I would never go back, for fear of receiving further abuse.
• 6. The boy had been sexually abused.
• 7. Drug abuse has long been a major problem for the authorities there.
• 8. He systematically abused his body with heroin and cocaine.
• 9. He addressed the clinical aspects of paedophilia and abuse.
• 10. What she did was an abuse of her position as manager.
• 11. He turned around and directed a torrent of abuse at me.
• 12. She screamed abuse at him.
• 13. The abuse of women needs to be treated seriously and sensitively.
• 14. The system is open to abuse.
• 15. She was shrieking abuse at them as they carried her off.
• 16. The descriptions of sexual abuse are graphic.
• 17. Women are often ashamed to admit they are being abused.
• 18. The abuse was directed at the TV crews.
• 19. Rival fans hurled abuse at each other.
• 20. I was left shouting abuse as the car sped off.
• 21. He had not, until recently, stooped to personal abuse.
• 22. He had abused his own daughter.
• 23. He showed how the rich and powerful can abuse their position.
• 24. Every day the newspapers tell stories of children worldwide who are abused.
• 25. He was dragged out of the court, spitting abuse at the judge and jury.
• 26. He came out with a stream of abuse.
• 27. They were jostled and subjected to a torrent of verbal abuse.
• 28. She launched into a tirade of abuse against politicians.
• 29. She snarled abuse at anyone who happened to walk past.
• 30. Newspapers resorted to personal abuse.
• 31. She let fly with a stream of abuse.
• 32. In the past they have been the target of racist abuse.
• 33. She abused her position as principal by giving jobs to her friends.
• 34. Abuse can lead to both psychological and emotional problems.
• 35. The system of paying cash bonuses is open to abuse.
• 36. She suffered years of physical abuse.
• 37. The women acted in self-defence after years of abuse.
• 38. I told her what I thought and got a mouthful of abuse for my pains!
• 39. Much of the crime in this area is related to drug abuse.
• 40. He alleged that he was verbally abused by other soldiers.
• 41. The report detailed the human rights abuses committed during the war.
• 42. The referee had been threatened and abused.
• 43. Human rights abuses by any party are intolerable.
• 44. He felt they had abused his trust by talking about him to the press.
• 45. She let loose a stream of abuse.
• 46. The government is taking action to combat drug abuse.
• 47. What went on here was an abuse of power.
• 48. The system, though well-meaning, is open to abuse.