Abusive: meaning, definitions and examples

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abusive

 

[ əˈbjuːsɪv ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

behavior towards others

Engaging in or characterized by verbal or physical attack or harm towards others.

Synonyms

aggressive, harsh, hurtful, violent

Examples of usage

  • He was fired for his abusive behavior towards his coworkers.
  • The abusive language used by the bully was completely unacceptable.
Context #2 | Adjective

relationship

Involving unfair or cruel treatment of others, especially in a relationship.

Synonyms

cruel, domineering, oppressive, tyrannical

Examples of usage

  • She finally left her abusive husband after years of suffering.
  • The abusive nature of their relationship was evident to everyone around them.

Translations

Translations of the word "abusive" in other languages:

🇵🇹 abusivo

🇮🇳 अपमानजनक

🇩🇪 missbräuchlich

🇮🇩 kasar

🇺🇦 образливий

🇵🇱 obraźliwy

🇯🇵 虐待的な (ぎゃくたいてきな)

🇫🇷 abusif

🇪🇸 abusivo

🇹🇷 kötüye kullanan

🇰🇷 남용하는

🇸🇦 مسيء

🇨🇿 urážlivý

🇸🇰 urážlivý

🇨🇳 滥用的

🇸🇮 žaljiv

🇮🇸 móðgandi

🇰🇿 қорлайтын

🇬🇪 შეურაცხმყოფელი

🇦🇿 təhqiramiz

🇲🇽 abusivo

Etymology

The word 'abusive' originates from the Latin word 'abusivus', which means 'misused or corrupt'. The term evolved over time to describe behavior or treatment that is harmful, unfair, or cruel towards others. In modern usage, 'abusive' is commonly associated with relationships and behavior that involves mistreatment or harm.

See also: abused, abuser.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #11,883, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.