abusive

adjective

abu·​sive ə-ˈbyü-siv How to pronounce abusive (audio)
also -ziv
Synonyms of abusivenext
1
a
: using harsh, insulting language
an angry and abusive crowd
b
: harsh and insulting
abusive language
c
: using or involving physical violence or emotional cruelty
abusive behavior
an abusive husband
an abusive relationship
2
: characterized by wrong or improper use or action
especially : corrupt
abusive financial practices
abusively adverb
abusiveness noun

Synonyms of abusive

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Examples of abusive in a Sentence

The fans yelled abusive comments to the referee. protecting wives from abusive husbands
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Outside the abusive behavior rules, Anthropic's other changes focus on wording and clarity for users rather than introducing new policies. — James Peckham, PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026 Its research examined whether Claude should end conversations with persistently harmful or abusive users. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2026 Still, Douglas is unflinching in the book about how physically abusive and terrifying his dad was to him and his brother. — Sean Woods, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2026 But the more productive expansion has to do with character, especially as regards Carrie and her mother, who is not the deranged, abusive religious fanatic of previous versions, but an essentially loving parent frightened of the modern world. — Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for abusive

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Anglo-French abusif "misplaced, wrong, in error," borrowed from Late Latin abūsīvus "misused, catachrestic," from Latin abūsus, past participle of abūtī "to abuse entry 2" + -īvus -ive

First Known Use

1538, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of abusive was in 1538

Rhymes for abusive

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Browse Nearby Words

abusion
abusive
abustle
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Cite this Entry

“Abusive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abusive. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

abusive

adjective
abu·​sive ə-ˈbyü-siv How to pronounce abusive (audio)
-ziv
: using or characterized by abuse
abusively adverb
abusiveness noun

Legal Definition

abusive

adjective
abu·​sive ə-ˈbyü-siv, -ziv How to pronounce abusive (audio)
1
: characterized by wrong or improper use or action
abusive tax shelters
2
: inflicting verbal or physical abuse
abusive parents
abusively adverb
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