abusive — English Dictionary

Adjective

1. Prone to treat someone badly by coarse, insulting words or other maltreatment; vituperative; reproachful; scurrilous.

   Synonyms

   scurrilous

   Examples

   All they could ever do was to shout abusive inanities at me.

   "Zero Tolerance. Aggressive and abusive behavior will not be tolerated. Our team are here to help, not hurt," the signs read.

2. Tending to deceive; fraudulent.

   Usage

   • Obsolete

   Examples

   an abusive treaty

3. Tending to misuse; practising or containing abuse.

   Usage

   • Archaic

   Examples

   […] to begin in this vacation the foundation of a trifling subject which might shroud in his leaves the abusive enormities of these our times.

   the abusive prerogatives of his see

4. Being physically or emotionally injurious; characterized by repeated violence or other abuse.

5. Wrongly used; perverted; misapplied; unjust; illegal.

   Examples

   I am […]necessitated to use the word Parliament improperly, according to the abusive acceptation thereof.

6. Catachrestic.

   Usage

   • Archaic

Adjective

1. expressing offensive reproach

   Synonyms

   opprobriousscurrilous

2. characterized by physical or psychological maltreatment

   Examples

   abusive punishment

   argued … that foster homes are abusive