Antonyms for abuse
| Grammar : Noun, verb |
| Spell : verb uh-byooz; noun uh-byoos |
| Phonetic Transcription : verb əˈbyuz; noun əˈbyus |
- acclaim
- acclamation
- adulate
- adulation
- advantage
- aid
- approval
- approve
- assist
- benefit
- blessing
- care for
- cherish
- clean
- commend
- commendation
- compliment
- defend
- esteem
- exalt
- exaltation
- favor
- flatter
- flattery
- good
- good deed
- goodness
- grow
- help
- hoard
- honor
- improve
- kindness
- laud
- obedience
- plaudit
- please
- pleasure
- praise
- preservation
- preserve
- prize
- protect
- purify
- respect
- revere
- sanctify
- save
- treasure
- treat well
Definition of abuse
Origin :- early 15c., "to misuse, misapply," from Middle French abuser, from Vulgar Latin *abusare, from Latin abusus "an abusing, using up," past participle of abuti "use up," also "misuse," from ab- "away" (see ab-) + uti "use" (see use). Of sexual situations from early 15c., but originally incest, homosexuality, prostitution, etc.; meaning "to misuse sexually, ravish" is from 1550s. Specifically of drugs, from 1968. Related: Abused; abusing.
- noun wrong use
- noun physical hurting, injuring
- noun verbal attack
- verb physically hurt or injure
- verb use wrongly
- verb attack with words
- verb take advantage of
- Let us rejoice that one such partisan was now at hand to stem the torrent of abuse.
- Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
- Abandonment and abuse are not acts of God, they are failures of love.
- Extract from : « United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches » by Various
- Oh, Whizzer, you poor fellow, why do you let him abuse you so?
- Extract from : « Chip, of the Flying U » by B. M. Bower
- That would have been an abuse of our treaties, and unworthy of your character.
- Extract from : « The Last of the Mohicans » by James Fenimore Cooper
- Yes, they have good times, their freedom is large, and they do not abuse it.
- Extract from : « American Notes » by Rudyard Kipling
- People are apt to abuse mathematics, when they don't know what they're talking about.
- Extract from : « The Rock of Chickamauga » by Joseph A. Altsheler
- I do not mind about the man's abuse; but I confess I grudge my twopence.
- Extract from : « The Atlantic Monthly, Vol. 10, No. 58, August, 1862 » by Various
- With all the abuse they had borne, not one of the brothers had been struck before.
- Extract from : « The Widow O'Callaghan's Boys » by Gulielma Zollinger
- She knows her power, and I am afraid this tempts her to abuse it.
- Extract from : « Tales And Novels, Volume 8 (of 10) » by Maria Edgeworth
- To come to rave against and abuse my dearest, dearest, faultless friend!
- Extract from : « Clarissa, Volume 3 (of 9) » by Samuel Richardson
Synonyms for abuse
- backbite
- bad-mouth
- bad-mouthing
- bang up
- bash
- beat up
- belittle
- berate
- blame
- blow off
- bung up
- calumniate
- cap
- castigate
- castigation
- censure
- corrupt
- corruption
- crime
- curse
- curses
- cuss out
- cut down
- cut to the quick
- cut up
- damage
- debasement
- decry
- defamation
- defame
- defile
- defilement
- delinquency
- deprave
- derision
- derogate
- desecrate
- desecration
- discount
- dissipate
- do a number on
- do an injustice to
- dump on
- exhaust
- exploit
- exploitation
- fault
- give a black eye
- harm
- hose
- hosing
- hurl brickbat
- hurt
- ill-treat
- impair
- impairment
- impose on
- injury
- injustice
- insult
- insults
- invective
- kicking around
- knifing
- knock
- libel
- malevolence
- maltreat
- maltreatment
- manhandling
- mar
- mess up
- minimize
- misapplication
- misconduct
- misdeed
- misemploy
- mishandle
- mishandling
- mismanage
- mistreat
- misuse
- molest
- nag
- obloquy
- offend
- offense
- oppress
- opprobrium
- overburden
- overtax
- overwork
- persecute
- perversion
- pick on
- pollute
- pollution
- prostitute
- prostitution
- pushing around
- put down
- put-down
- quinine
- rag on
- reproach
- revile
- revilement
- ride
- rip up
- rough up
- roughhouse
- ruin
- run down
- scold
- scolding
- shake up
- signify
- signifying
- sin
- slam
- slander
- slap
- sling mud
- smear
- sound
- spoil
- squander
- swear at
- swearing
- taint
- tear apart
- tirade
- total
- trash
- upbraid
- upbraiding
- use
- victimize
- vilification
- vilify
- violate
- violation
- vituperate
- vituperation
- waste
- wax
- wrong
- wrongdoing
- zing
Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019