All abuse synonyms
aΒ·buse
A a verb abuse
- roughhouse β rough, disorderly playing, especially indoors.
- mishandle β to handle badly; maltreat: to mishandle a dog.
- pollute β to make foul or unclean, especially with harmful chemical or waste products; dirty: to pollute the air with smoke.
- ill-treat β to treat badly; maltreat; abuse.
- ruin β ruins, the remains of a building, city, etc., that has been destroyed or that is in disrepair or a state of decay: We visited the ruins of ancient Greece.
- damage β To damage an object means to break it, spoil it physically, or stop it from working properly.
- mar β to damage or spoil to a certain extent; render less perfect, attractive, useful, etc.; impair or spoil: That billboard mars the view. The holiday was marred by bad weather.
- taint β the area between the testicles or vulva and the anus; the perineum.
- hose β a flexible tube for conveying a liquid, as water, to a desired point: a garden hose; a fire hose.
- desecrate β If someone desecrates something which is considered to be holy or very special, they deliberately damage or insult it.
- spoil β to damage severely or harm (something), especially with reference to its excellence, value, usefulness, etc.: The water stain spoiled the painting. Drought spoiled the corn crop.
- wax β a fit of anger; rage.
- deprave β Something that depraves someone makes them morally bad or evil.
- total β constituting or comprising the whole; entire; whole: the total expenditure.
- oppress β to burden with cruel or unjust impositions or restraints; subject to a burdensome or harsh exercise of authority or power: a people oppressed by totalitarianism.
- overwork β to cause to work too hard, too much, or too long; weary or exhaust with work (often used reflexively): Don't overwork yourself on that new job.
- dissipate β to scatter in various directions; disperse; dispel.
- overburden β to load with too great a burden; overload: He was overburdened with cares.
- misemploy β to use for the wrong purpose; use wrongly or improperly; misuse.
- manipulate β to manage or influence skillfully, especially in an unfair manner: to manipulate people's feelings.
- batter β If someone is battered, they are regularly hit and badly hurt by a member of their family or by their partner.
- injure β to do or cause harm of any kind to; damage; hurt; impair: to injure one's hand.
- victimise β to make a victim of.
- swear β to make a solemn declaration or affirmation by some sacred being or object, as a deity or the Bible.
- call names β to speak of or to in an abusive manner
- minimise β to reduce to the smallest possible amount or degree.
- bad-mouth β If someone bad-mouths you, they say unpleasant things about you, especially when you are not there to defend yourself.
- cut down β If you cut down on something or cut down something, you use or do less of it.
- pick on β to choose or select from among a group: to pick a contestant from the audience.
- put down β a throw or cast, especially one made with a forward motion of the hand when raised close to the shoulder.
- run down β melted or liquefied: run butter.
- blow off β If you blow something off, you ignore it or choose not to deal with it.
- cut to the quick β done, proceeding, or occurring with promptness or rapidity, as an action, process, etc.; prompt; immediate: a quick response.
- do a number on β a numeral or group of numerals.
- dump on β to drop or let fall in a mass; fling down or drop heavily or suddenly: Dump the topsoil here.
- rag on β to scold.
- rip up β tear to pieces
- swear at β use bad language towards, curse at
- tear apart β rip to pieces
- impose on β to lay on or set as something to be borne, endured, obeyed, fulfilled, paid, etc.: to impose taxes.
- clapperclaw β to claw or scratch with the hands and nails
- ill-use β to treat badly, unjustly, cruelly, etc.
noun abuse
- signifying β sounding1 (def 4)
- slander β defamation; calumny: rumors full of slander.
- tirade β a prolonged outburst of bitter, outspoken denunciation: a tirade against smoking.
- upbraiding β the act or words of a person who upbraids; severe reproof or censure: an upbraiding from one's superiors.
- vilification β to speak ill of; defame; slander.
- vituperation β verbal abuse or castigation; violent denunciation or condemnation.
- blackguard β an unprincipled contemptible person; scoundrel
- contumely β scornful or insulting language or behaviour