to use wrongly or improperly; misuse

to abuse one's authority.

to treat in a harmful, injurious, or offensive way

to abuse a horse; to abuse one's eyesight.

to speak insultingly, harshly, and unjustly to or about; revile; malign.

to commit sexual assault upon.

Obsolete . to deceive or mislead.

wrong or improper use; misuse

the abuse of privileges.

harshly or coarsely insulting language

The officer heaped abuse on his men.

bad or improper treatment; maltreatment

The child was subjected to cruel abuse.

a corrupt or improper practice or custom

the abuses of a totalitarian regime.

rape or sexual assault.

Obsolete . deception. ?

abuse oneself

to masturbate.

noun

aid , help , preservation , respect , acclamation , adulation , approval , commendation , plaudit , praise

verb

cherish , defend , help , preserve , protect , respect , benefit , care for , esteem , prize , revere , acclaim , adulate , approve , commend , compliment , praise , honor , treasure

noun

corruption , crime , debasement , delinquency , desecration , exploitation , fault , injustice , misapplication , misconduct , misdeed , mishandling , mismanage , misuse , offense , perversion , prostitution , sin , wrong , wrongdoingnotes:abuse carries with it some sense of harm; misuse refers to an incorrect use that may not lead to harmto misuse is to use something wrongly , to abuse is to misuse something so badly that you damage it , damage , defilement , harm , hurt , impairment , injury , malevolence , maltreatment , manhandling , pollution , violation , bad-mouthing , blame , castigation , censure , curse , curses , defamation , derision , hosing , insults , invective , kicking around , knifing , libel , obloquy , opprobrium , pushing around , put-down , quinine , reproach , revilement , scolding , signifying , slander , swearing , tirade , upbraiding , vilification , vituperationnotes:abuse carries with it some sense of harm; misuse refers to an incorrect use that may not lead to harmto misuse is to use something wrongly , misappropriation , ill-treatment , mistreatment , misusage , billingsgate , contumely , railing , reviling , scurrility , scurrilousness , abusiveness , calumny , condemnation , excoriation , execration , humiliation , infamy , objurgation , outrage , profanation , rape , sassiness , vituperation

verb

bang up , beat up , bung up , corrupt , cut up * , damage , defile , deprave , desecrate , harm , hose * , ill-treat , impair , maltreat , mar , mess up * , mishandle , mistreat , misuse , molest , oppress , persecute , pollute * , roughhouse , rough up , ruin , shake up * , spoil , taint , total * , victimize , violate , wax *notes:abuse carries with it some sense of harm; misuse refers to an incorrect use that may not lead to harmto misuse is to use something wrongly , to abuse is to misuse something so badly that you damage it , dissipate , exhaust , misemploy , overburden , overtax , overwork , prostitute , squander , wastenotes:abuse carries with it some sense of harm; misuse refers to an incorrect use that may not lead to harmto misuse is to use something wrongly , backbite , bad-mouth , bash , belittle , berate , blow off * , calumniate , cap * , castigate , cuss out , cut down * , cut to the quick , decry , defame , derogate , discount , do a number on , dump on , give a black eye , hurl brickbat , insult , knock * , minimize , nag , offend , pick on , put down * , rag on , reproach , revile , ride * , rip up , run down * , scold , signify , slam * , slap * , sling mud , smear * , sound * , swear at , tear apart , trash * , upbraid , vilify , vituperate , zing *notes:abuse carries with it some sense of harm; misuse refers to an incorrect use that may not lead to harmto misuse is to use something wrongly , do an injustice to , exploit , impose on , use , wrongnotes:abuse carries with it some sense of harm; misuse refers to an incorrect use that may not lead to harmto misuse is to use something wrongly , misapply , misappropriate , pervert , impose , presume , ill-use , assail , rail against , affront , bedevil , blaspheme , censure , cruelty , curse , disparage , fault , flay , hurt , impute , injure , invective , malign , manipulate , maul , obloquy , opprobrium , profane , punish , rail , rape , ravish , scathe , scurrility , slander , tax , traduce , vituperation , wrong