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abuse
noun [C or U] (WRONG USE) /əˈbjuːs/Definition
B2 the use of something in a way that is harmful or morally wrong: an abuse (= wrong use) of privilege/power/someone's kindness Drug and alcohol abuse (= using these substances in a bad way) contributed to his early death.Treating people or animals badlyInsults and abuseUnkind, cruel and unfeelingViolent or aggressive
(Definition of abuse noun (WRONG USE) from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus
© Cambridge University Press)
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SMART Thesaurus: Treating people or animals badly
Synonyms and related words:
- a raw deal idiom
- at the hands of sb idiom
- batten on sb phrasal verb
- be heavy on sb idiom
- be put upon phrasal verb
- grind the faces of the poor idiom
- harassment noun
- have your knife into sb idiom
- hell noun
- hit sb where it hurts idiom
- objectification noun
- persecute verb
- persecution noun
- persecutor noun
- pick on sb phrasal verb
- toy with sb/sth phrasal verb
- trample verb (TREAT WITHOUT RESPECT)
- treat sb like dirt idiom
- trespass on/upon sth phrasal verb
- tyrannical adjective
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