abusive

adjective

abu·​sive ə-ˈbyü-siv How to pronounce abusive (audio)
 also  -ziv
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

Examples of abusive in a Sentence

The fans yelled abusive comments to the referee. protecting wives from abusive husbands
Recent Examples on the Web The new nun becomes friends with Sister Mary (The White Lotus season two’s Simona Tabasco), a brash and defiant woman who joined the convent to escape an abusive relationship. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2024 My own research suggested that Facebook failed to constrain activity among abusive superusers that weighed heavily in algorithmic promotion. Nathaniel Lubin, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2024 When Meghan was targeted by abusive language online, Harry blamed it on hostile and racist press coverage. Mark Landler, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2024 Ultimately, this could mean the person creating the deepfake video may be the copyright holder of the abusive content. Matt Burgess, WIRED, 11 Mar. 2024 At 13, she was removed from an abusive home and put in foster care. Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2024 The palace staff also began devoting more resources to filtering and deleting comments targeting Meghan, and blocking abusive Twitter and Instagram accounts. Amarachi Orie, CNN, 9 Mar. 2024 Indeed, the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence noted on its website that teen girls in physically abusive relationships are 3.5 times more likely to become pregnant than non-abused girls. Cathie Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 6 Mar. 2024 Val, the driving force behind the group’s scheme, struggled with homelessness after fleeing her abusive father in her teens. Heller McAlpin, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'abusive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near abusive

Cite this Entry

“Abusive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abusive. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on abusive

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