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Abuse
01
treatment of a person or animal in a violent or cruel way
Example
Child abuse is a serious societal issue that requires prompt intervention and support for victims.
Domestic abuse can take many forms, including physical violence, emotional manipulation, and financial control.
Elder abuse is a growing concern in aging populations, necessitating greater awareness and protective measures to safeguard vulnerable seniors.
02
the harmful or wrong use of something
Example
Substance abuse can have devastating effects on individuals and their families, leading to addiction, health problems, and social isolation.
03
a rude expression intended to offend or hurt
to abuse
01
to cruelly or violently treat a person or an animal, especially regularly or repeatedly
Transitive: to abuse sb/sth
Example
Domestic violence is a serious issue where one partner may abuse the other, causing both physical and emotional harm.
Animal cruelty laws exist to prevent individuals from abusing animals.
Animal rights activists work tirelessly to expose and stop individuals who abuse animals for entertainment purposes.
02
to use or manipulate something in a way that deviates from its intended purpose
Transitive: to abuse sth
Example
Online platforms have policies to prevent users from abusing the system through spamming or harassment.
Some individuals abuse technology meant for educational purposes by using it for unauthorized and disruptive activities in the classroom.
The CEO resigned amid allegations of abusing company funds for personal expenses.
03
to consume substances such as alcohol or drugs beyond acceptable or recommended levels
Transitive: to abuse alcohol or drugs
Example
He began to abuse alcohol after facing a series of personal challenges, leading to detrimental effects on his health.
The musician struggled with fame and started to abuse drugs.
Long-term stress at work caused him to abuse prescription painkillers as a way to cope with the pressure.
04
to verbally attack or insult someone with offensive or harsh language
Transitive: to abuse sb
Example
During the heated argument, he chose to abuse his opponent with a barrage of insults and offensive language.
Online platforms often struggle to curb instances where users abuse others through the use of hate speech.
Harassment policies in workplaces aim to prevent instances where employees may abuse their colleagues through offensive language.
05
to sexually assault a person, especially women and children
Transitive: to abuse sb
Example
The survivor courageously shared their experience of an individual who sought to abuse them.
Community initiatives aim to dismantle the culture that perpetuates attitudes and behaviors allowing individuals to abuse others sexually.
Consent workshops in educational institutions play a critical role in preventing instances where students may abuse others sexually.
