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abuse

/əˈbjuːs/
Meanings
  • noun

    The misuse of power or authority; to treat cruelly or unjustly.

    - "The boss's verbal abuse of employees was unacceptable."
    - "Domestic abuse is a serious crime and requires immediate intervention."
    - "Emotional abuse can be just as damaging as physical abuse."
  • verb

    To subject to harsh or cruel treatment.

    - "He abused his power by taking bribes."
    - "The bullies at school abused the new student."
    - "The teacher abused her position by favoring certain students."
Pronunciation
  1. /əˈbjus/



    Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=187206"
  2. /əˈbjuz/



    Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=187207"
Synonyms

abusio , contumely , insult , invective , opprobrium , reproach , scurrility , misuse , injure , maltreat , reproach , revile , vilify , vituperate
Rhymes
Words rhyming with abuse
abuse , muse , choose , lose , refuse , amuse , confuse , misuse , peruse , snooze , cruise , muse , news , amuse , accuse , excuse , abuse , refuse , misconstrue , misuse , misapply , abuse , misbehave , misconceive , misapprehend , misquote , misstate , misjudge , misrepresent , misinterpret
Homophones
Words having the same pronunciation but different meanings, origins, or spelling,

  1. Abuse (English) : The misuse of power or authority.

  2. Abuse (French) : To leave, abandon.

  3. Abuse (Spanish) : To serve, to use.

Variants
List of all variants of abuse that leads to same result
abuse , abuses , abusable , abused , abuser , abusers , abusing , self-abuse , self-abuses , human rights abuse , ripe for abuse , verbal abuse
Forms
Different forms of the word (e.g., verb conjugations, plural forms, comparative/superlative forms for adjectives).

abuses, abused, abusing, abuses, abused, abuses

Etymology
origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

From Old French abuser, meaning 'to mislead, deceive, or cheat'.

Trivia
Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

  1. The term 'domestic abuse' was first used in 1971 by Erin Pizzey, a British social worker.

  2. Approximately one in four women and one in six men have experienced some form of domestic violence in their lifetime.

  3. In the United States, the National Domestic Violence Hotline receives over 20,000 calls per month.

Related Concepts
informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

  1. Domestic Violence: A form of interpersonal violence that occurs within the home or family.

  2. Child Abuse: Any form of physical, emotional, or sexual mistreatment of a child.

  3. Elder Abuse: The mistreatment or neglect of older adults, often by caregivers or family members.

Culture
Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

Abuse has been a significant theme in literature, art, and music, often highlighting the power dynamics and consequences of mistreatment. For instance, in Fyodor Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment, the protagonist Raskolnikov commits a series of abuses, ultimately leading to his downfall. In visual art, works like Francis Bacon's Study for a Portrait I and II depict the physical and emotional abuse of the human form.

How to Memorize "abuse"

  1. visualize

    - Imagine someone in a position of power taking advantage of someone weaker or more vulnerable.

  2. associate

    - Connect the word 'abuse' with 'power', 'mistreatment', and 'misuse'.

  3. mnemonics

    - Use the mnemonic 'Power Over Means Abuse' to remember the meaning.

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