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Abusable - 2 dictionary results
a⋅buse
[v. uh-byooz; n. uh-byoos] 
verb, a⋅bused, a⋅bus⋅ing, noun –verb (used with object)
| 1. | to use wrongly or improperly; misuse: to abuse one's authority. |
| 2. | to treat in a harmful, injurious, or offensive way: to abuse a horse; to abuse one's eyesight. |
| 3. | to speak insultingly, harshly, and unjustly to or about; revile; malign. |
| 4. | to commit sexual assault upon. |
| 5. | Obsolete. to deceive or mislead. |
–noun
—Idiom| 6. | wrong or improper use; misuse: the abuse of privileges. |
| 7. | harshly or coarsely insulting language: The officer heaped abuse on his men. |
| 8. | bad or improper treatment; maltreatment: The child was subjected to cruel abuse. |
| 9. | a corrupt or improper practice or custom: the abuses of a totalitarian regime. |
| 10. | rape or sexual assault. |
| 11. | Obsolete. deception. |
| 12. | abuse oneself, to masturbate. |
Origin:
1400–50; (v.) late ME abusen < MF abuser, v. deriv. of abus < L abūsus misuse, wasting, equiv. to abūt(ī) to use up, misuse (ab- ab- + ūtī to use ) + -tus suffix of v. action; (n.) late ME abus < MF abus or L abūsus
1400–50; (v.) late ME abusen < MF abuser, v. deriv. of abus < L abūsus misuse, wasting, equiv. to abūt(ī) to use up, misuse (ab- ab- + ūtī to use ) + -tus suffix of v. action; (n.) late ME abus < MF abus or L abūsus
Related forms:
a⋅bus⋅a⋅ble [uh-byoo-zuh-buhl] , adjective
[uh-byoo-zuh-buhl] , adjective a⋅bus⋅er, noun
Synonyms:
1. misapply. 2. ill-use, maltreat, injure, harm, hurt. 3. vilify, vituperate, berate, scold; slander, defame, calumniate, traduce. 6. misapplication. 7. slander, aspersion. Abuse, censure, invective all mean strongly expressed disapproval. Abuse implies an outburst of harsh and scathing words against another (often one who is defenseless): abuse directed against an opponent. Censure implies blame, adverse criticism, or hostile condemnation: severe censure of acts showing bad judgment. Invective applies to strong but formal denunciation in speech or print, often in the public interest: invective against graft.
1. misapply. 2. ill-use, maltreat, injure, harm, hurt. 3. vilify, vituperate, berate, scold; slander, defame, calumniate, traduce. 6. misapplication. 7. slander, aspersion. Abuse, censure, invective all mean strongly expressed disapproval. Abuse implies an outburst of harsh and scathing words against another (often one who is defenseless): abuse directed against an opponent. Censure implies blame, adverse criticism, or hostile condemnation: severe censure of acts showing bad judgment. Invective applies to strong but formal denunciation in speech or print, often in the public interest: invective against graft.
Antonyms:
3, 7. praise.
3, 7. praise.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source
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Link To Abusable
Abusable
A*bus"a*ble\, a. That may be abused.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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