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Warning: This article involves discussion of the sensitive topics of physical and emotional abuse and substance abuse. If you or someone you know needs support, please visit the site to chat or call the hotline at 1-800-799-7233. For support with substance abuse, call the at 1-800-662-4357.

The verb abuse most commonly means to mistreat and cause harm to a person or an animal.

The noun abuse refers to such mistreatment. The victim of the abuse or the kind of abuse is often specified before the word, as in child abuse, spousal abuse, animal abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse.

A person who abuses someone can be called an abuser, and such a person is said to be abusive.

Abuse can also be used as a verb meaning to misuse something or as a noun meaning misuse—referring to the overuse or improper use of things. This sense of the word is especially seen in the phrases alcohol abuse, drug abuse, substance abuse, and abuse of power.

As a verb, abuse is pronounced uh-BYOOZ. As a noun, it’s pronounced uh-BYOOS. This same pronunciation pattern is seen in the verb and noun forms of the word use (which rhyme with the verb and noun forms of abuse, respectively).

Example: Just because it’s not physical doesn’t mean it’s not abuse—emotional abuse can leave its own scars.​

The first records of the word abuse come from the 1400s. It comes from the Latin ����ū���ܲ�, from the Latin verb ����ū��ī, meaning “to misuse.” The prefix ab- means “outside of” or “opposite to.”

We often think of abuse as a repeated behavior, and it often is, but even a single instance of mistreatment qualifies as abuse. Unfortunately, abuse can happen in many forms, and those forms are often specified along with the word.

When abuse is used to refer to misuse of something (as opposed to the mistreatment of someone), it’s often associated with seriously negative behavior, like alcohol abuse (which refers to the overconsumption of alcohol, often due to addiction). However, both the noun and verb can be applied to less serious situations, as in My kids abuse their shoes so much that I have to buy them a new pair every few months.

When the plural abuses is used, it often has a slightly different meaning. When we talk about the abuses of a government or organization, we typically use the word to mean “corrupt or improper practices.”

What are some other forms related to abuse?

• abuser (noun)
• abused (adjective, noun)
• abusive (adjective)

What are some synonyms for abuse?

• misuse
• mistreat
• mistreatment

What are some words that share a root or word element with abuse?��

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• use
• utilize
• abnormal

What are some words that often get used in discussing abuse?

• child
• spousal
• physical
• domestic
• emotional
• animal
• drug
• alcohol
• substance
• violence

Abuse is always used negatively, and discussions about abuse are usually very serious.

Paedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale's prison term extended for sexual abuse of boys in 1970s

— ABC News (@abcnews)

Every citizen can step up to oppose abuse of power, since power is granted by the people. Withholding information and giving out erroneous information, and hypnotizing the public to make choices against its own interest, is not informed consent; it is psychological manipulation.

— Bandy X Lee, MD, MDiv (@BandyXLee1)

If you or someone you know are suffering domestic abuse you can access help and advice here

Including support organisations and reporting options

— West Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner (@WestYorksOPCC)

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