Dictionary

abusive en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /əˈbjuː.sɪv/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (UK) audio
• /əˈbju.zɪv/ (US)
• /əˈbju.sɪv/ (US)

Etymology

First attested in the 1530s. From French abusif, from Latin abūsīvus, from abusus + -ivus (“-ive”). Equivalent to abuse + -ive.

Meanings

1. Prone to treat someone badly by coarse, insulting words or other maltreatment; vituperative; reproachful; scurrilous.
   • All they could ever do was to shout abusive inanities at me.
   • "Zero Tolerance. Aggressive and abusive behavior will not be tolerated. Our team are here to help, not hurt," the signs read. 2020 March 17, Freya Noble, “'Our team are here to help, not hurt': Woolworths urge customers not to abuse staff”, in Nine News, archived from the original on 16 Apr 2023:
2. (obsolete) Tending to deceive; fraudulent.
   • an abusive treaty a. 1627 (date written), Francis [Bacon], “Considerations Touching a Warre with Spaine. […]”, in William Rawley, editor, Certaine Miscellany Works of the Right Honourable Francis Lo. Verulam, Viscount S. Alban. […], London: […] I. Hauiland for Humphrey Robinson, […], published 1629, →OCLC:
3. (archaic) Tending to misuse; practising or containing abuse.
   • the abusive prerogatives of his see 1837, Henry Hallam, Introduction to the Literature of Europe:
   • […] to begin in this vacation the foundation of a trifling subject which might shroud in his leaves the abusive enormities of these our times. 1589, Thomas Nashe, The Anatomy of Absurdity:
4. Being physically or emotionally injurious; characterized by repeated violence or other abuse.
5. Wrongly used; perverted; misapplied; unjust; illegal.
   • I am […]necessitated to use the word Parliament improperly, according to the abusive acceptation thereof. 1662, Thomas Fuller, Worthies of England:
6. (archaic) Catachrestic.

Forms

Antonyms

abuseless · unabusive · nonabusive

Deriveds

abusivity · abusiveness · abusively

Synonyms

injurious (prone to treating badly) · berating (prone to treating badly) · scurrilous (prone to treating badly) · reviling (prone to treating badly) · opprobrious (prone to treating badly) · insulting (prone to treating badly) · scurrilous · offensive (prone to treating badly) · reproachful (prone to treating badly) · insolent (prone to treating badly) · vituperative (prone to treating badly)

Translations (20)

ro abuziv (practicing abuse) · ca abusiu (wrongly used) · ru ма́терный (containing abuse) · kea abuzóde (practicing abuse) · ca abusiu (practicing abuse) · am የዘለፋ (containing abuse) · ru бра́нный (containing abuse) · la contumēliōsus (practicing abuse) · ar مُؤْذٍ (practicing abuse) · ar مُسِيء (practicing abuse) · ga maslach (practicing abuse) · es abusivo (practicing abuse) · ru руга́тельный (containing abuse) · kea abuzadu (practicing abuse) · ast abusivu (practicing abuse) · pt abusivo (containing abuse) · pt abusivo (practicing abuse) · mi ngutu momoho (wrongly used) · gl abusivo (practicing abuse) · mi ngutu momoho (practicing abuse)