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.
'abuse' example sentence:
- All the children had been physically and emotionally abused.
- Quick-thinking TV bosses bleeped out the abuse.
- Throughout the book Liu speaks of the abuse of Party power.
- It's natural to feel helpless against such abuse.
- 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.
- The boy had been sexually abused.
- Drug abuse has long been a major problem for the authorities there.
- He systematically abused his body with heroin and cocaine.
- He addressed the clinical aspects of paedophilia and abuse.
- What she did was an abuse of her position as manager.
- He turned around and directed a torrent of abuse at me.
- She screamed abuse at him.
- The abuse of women needs to be treated seriously and sensitively.
- The system is open to abuse.
- She was shrieking abuse at them as they carried her off.
- The descriptions of sexual abuse are graphic.
- Women are often ashamed to admit they are being abused.
- The abuse was directed at the TV crews.
- Rival fans hurled abuse at each other.
- I was left shouting abuse as the car sped off.
- He had not, until recently, stooped to personal abuse.
- He had abused his own daughter.
- He showed how the rich and powerful can abuse their position.
- Every day the newspapers tell stories of children worldwide who are abused.
- He was dragged out of the court, spitting abuse at the judge and jury.
- He came out with a stream of abuse.
- They were jostled and subjected to a torrent of verbal abuse.
- She launched into a tirade of abuse against politicians.
- She snarled abuse at anyone who happened to walk past.
- Newspapers resorted to personal abuse.
- She let fly with a stream of abuse.
- In the past they have been the target of racist abuse.
- She abused her position as principal by giving jobs to her friends.
- Abuse can lead to both psychological and emotional problems.
- The system of paying cash bonuses is open to abuse.
- She suffered years of physical abuse.
- The women acted in self-defence after years of abuse.
- I told her what I thought and got a mouthful of abuse for my pains!
- Much of the crime in this area is related to drug abuse.
- He alleged that he was verbally abused by other soldiers.
- The report detailed the human rights abuses committed during the war.
- The referee had been threatened and abused.
- Human rights abuses by any party are intolerable.
- He felt they had abused his trust by talking about him to the press.
- She let loose a stream of abuse.
- The government is taking action to combat drug abuse.
- What went on here was an abuse of power.
- The system, though well-meaning, is open to abuse.