abuse1 nounabuse2 verb
abusea‧buse1 /əˈbjuːs/ ●●○ S3 W3 noun 
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- a case of child abuse at a daycare center
- a victim of sexual abuse
- An angry mob screamed abuse and hurled missiles during clashes with police yesterday.
- By the late 1970s, the word "hippie" had become a term of abuse.
- Demonstrators hurled abuse at councillors as they entered the council building in Glasgow.
- Doctors believed that there was no evidence of abuse, despite the woman's claims.
- Leaning out of the window, he let loose a stream of abuse.
- People were shouting abuse at the Prime Minister as he sped away in a large car.
- the abuse of the elderly
- There has been an increase in the number of cases of child abuse.
- This is an obscene abuse of political power.
- Worrell lost his job as coach because of his verbal abuse of players.
- Currently the best-known cases seeking money damages for failure to report child abuse and neglect have been filed against physicians and hospitals.
- Dietz could not say whether Erik is lying about alleged abuse by his father.
- Here participants were given a chance to discuss sexuality, health, relationships, self-esteem and abuse.
- In considering the problem of child abuse, we all have the same starting point.
- Instead of sighs and accidents there was pointed and deliberate abuse.
- The power to stop a prosecution arises only when it is an abuse of the process of the court.
- Yet everyone knew of the abuses which had grown, flourished and even became institutionalized in this laissezfaire prison system.
Longman Language Activatorcruel behaviour
cruel treatment or behaviour: · What kind of person could treat a fellow human being with such cruelty?· Her black eye and bruises were undeniable evidence of his cruelty.cruelty to: · Burnett has campaigned against cruelty to animals for more than 20 years.
deliberately cruel treatment of someone, especially someone in your family that you are supposed to care for: · Doctors believed that there was no evidence of abuse, despite the woman's claims.child abuse (=cruel treatment of children): · There has been an increase in the number of cases of child abuse.sexual abuse (=when someone forces another person to take part in sexual activities): · a victim of sexual abuse
cruel treatment of someone who is smaller, younger, or weaker - use this especially about children being cruel to other children: · The government has become involved in the effort to solve the problem of bullying in schools.
cruel treatment of people or animals, especially those you have some control over: · There can be no good reason for the ill-treatment of factory-farm animals.· Jailers singled out certain prisoners for maltreatment.· There can be no excuse for the mistreatment of people seeking asylum in this country.
cruel treatment of people because of their religious or political beliefs, or because of the race they belong to: · Many Jews fled to America to escape persecution in Europe.· Katya asked the United States to protect her from persecution in her home country.persecution of: · the relentless persecution of American Communists in the 1950s
extremely cruel and shocking actions against people, especially during a war: · Survivors from the concentration camps had witnessed unspeakable atrocities.commit atrocities: · Retreating soldiers told stories of awful atrocities committed by the enemy.
taking pleasure in cruel acts: · Sadism may stem from a desire to dominate.· Mzukwa grew quiet as he recalled the brutality and sadism of the prison guards.
cruelty that includes violence and a complete lack of sympathy for people's suffering: · Reformists were appalled by the immorality and inhumanity of the slave trade.· The novel focuses on the inhumanity of prisons and labour camps.
words or actions that insult someone something rude that someone says or does to someone else, that offends their intelligence, character, or appearance etc: · Outside the pub, a drunk was shouting insults at everyone who came past.· You mustn't wear your shoes inside the temple -- it is a great insult.hurl insults (at somebody): · People were hurling insults at the players as they walked off the pitch.take something as an insult (=be insulted by it): · I said something about her new hairstyle and she took it as an insult.
rude, offensive, or unpleasant things that someone says to someone else, especially when they are angry: shout/scream/hurl abuse: · People were shouting abuse at the Prime Minister as he sped away in a large car.· An angry mob screamed abuse and hurled missiles during clashes with police yesterday.· Demonstrators hurled abuse at councillors as they entered the council building in Glasgow.term of abuse (=a word used to insult someone): · By the late 1970s, the word "hippie" had become a term of abuse.torrent/stream of abuse (=a lot of abuse): · Leaning out of the window, he let loose a stream of abuse.
formal a remark or action that offends someone because it treats them without any respect: affront to: · She felt that his behaviour was an affront to her dignity as a human being.· Lucy was so shocked by these affronts that she remained speechless for the rest of the evening.personal affront: · Though I only intended it as a joke, he took it as a personal affront.
to be very rude to someone to be very rude and unpleasant to someone, either by saying rude things to them or by making them feel stupid or unimportant: · Jarvis was fired for insulting a customer.· They offered me $20 for a whole day's work - I felt really insulted.
to speak or behave towards someone in a way that offends them: · My mother doesn't like my boyfriend because he was rude to her once.· You shouldn't let her be so rude to you.
to say a lot of rude, offensive, unpleasant things to someone, especially when you are angry with them: · The men were getting drunk on cheap beer and some had started abusing passers-by.verbally abuse (=to say something very rude to someone): · The player was reported to the tournament director for verbally abusing match officials.
to shout a lot of rude and offensive things at someone: · The crowd screamed abuse as the two men accused of the murder left the court in police vans.· Strikers outside the factory gate were shouting abuse at anybody who tried to get past them.
to try to offend someone by calling them rude names in the way that children do: · He tried to make Oliver cry by hitting him, pulling his hair, and calling him names.· "She said I was a fat pig.'' "Oh, I've been called far worse names than that.''
if an action or someone's behaviour is an insult , it offends you because it shows no respect: · The pay offer of 2% was an insult.be an insult to: · The girl's father claimed the portrait revealing his daughter's face was an insult to Islam.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
several cases of child abuse Many children suffer racial abuse at school. An independent committee will look into alleged human rights abuses. government officials’ abuse of power A self-monitoring tax system is clearly open to abuse (=able to be used wrongly). vandalism and verbal abuse directed at old people The other driver started hurling abuse at me.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES alcohol abuse (=when someone drinks too much) flagrant violations of human rights Barker subjected his victim to awful abuse. a tirade of abuse When I asked him to move, he unleashed a torrent of abuse. verbal abuse (=cruel words) from other kids on the streetCOLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
several cases of child abuse Many children suffer racial abuse at school. An independent committee will look into alleged human rights abuses. government officials’ abuse of power A self-monitoring tax system is clearly open to abuse (=able to be used wrongly). (=the practice of drinking too much or taking illegal drugs)
vandalism and verbal abuse directed at old people (=a series of rude or angry words)
The other driver started hurling abuse at me. alcohol abuse (=when someone drinks too much) (=use your authority in a bad way)· The mayor was accused of abusing his authority and taking bribes.
(=treating children in a very bad way, especially sexually)· He was arrested on suspicion of child abuse.
(=in a family, especially by a husband towards his wife)· The organization supports women who are victims of domestic violence.
(=taking drugs)· She is being treated for drug abuse.
flagrant violations of human rights· He had suffered physical abuse at the hands of his parents.
· Her father had physically abused her.
(=use your level or rank wrongly)· He abused his position as a doctor.
(=a wrong or unfair use of power)· This cover-up is a scandalous abuse of power.
(=insulting remarks based on someone's race)· Their children had begun to face racial abuse on the streets and in school.
· He was surrounded by a group of boys who shouted abuse at him.
Barker subjected his victim to awful abuse. (=a word that is offensive or deliberately rude)· ‘Geek’ is used as a term of abuse.
a tirade of abuse When I asked him to move, he unleashed a torrent of abuse. verbal abuse (=cruel words) from other kids on the street· Similarly, reporting of domestic abuse doubled in the London area between 1991-92.· J.-hungry media with snappy sound bites and an attention-grabbing stance on domestic abuse.· Many physicians have been trained to screen women for domestic abuse.· Several residential neighborhoods have seen increases in robberies, burglaries, street violence and domestic abuse, the spokesmen said.· His suspension was as lame as O. J. Simpson getting to do counseling over the telephone for domestic abuse.· To confront domestic abuse is to confront the failure of the church.
· The incidence of elder abuse is hard to quantify.· So this week Community Care launches Elder abuse: break the silence - its major campaign for 1993.· Intent could be a factor in defining elder abuse.· Researching the prevalence of elder abuse is notoriously difficult, and information on the abuse of black elders is non-existent.· Community Care believes elder abuse is a major problem.
· The victim of horrendous physical and emotional abuse, she was failed by all those who were bound up in her care.· In one fell swoop, the authors have denied the deeply traumatizing consequences of extreme verbal and emotional abuse.
· But he did refer to a spectator and an alleged verbal and physical abuse on Dooley and himself.· She suffered terrible verbal as well as physical abuse for almost twenty-four years.· Some women are afraid of physical violence or abuse from their partners, if they try to make changes in their relationship.· The verbal and sometimes physical abuse that the guards have to take can be unbearable.· A checklist of the types of physical abuse was developed to identify and categorise them.· One is the difficulty of establishing a viable and nationally recognised definition of physical abuse.· No one should be subject to physical or mental abuse, by another human being.· This type of physical abuse is limited to the more extreme forms of witchcraft and satanism.
· It helps management build a complete picture of various types of absence, and to identify potential abuses.· The potential for abuse in such a system is immense.· It may be necessary to report back to management any concerns of mismanagement or potential abuse.· The potential for abuse and misuse of genome and cloning technology has always been a quiet threat.· Given the potential for abuse, should drinks packaging carry a health warning on the label?· When abuse or potential abuse is confirmed the conference may decide to place a child's name on the child protection register.· The exchange has a continuing obligation to monitor markets and to identify and address potential abuses.
· Some ethnic minority elders may find the continuing experience of hostility and racial abuse which they experience very hard to bear.· Some critics say the prisons should hire more blacks to help curb racial abuse.· People we spoke to in Ross said that people involved in racial abuse were in the minority.· A lot of racial abuse and harassment goes on.· Their children had begun to face racial abuse on the streets and in the schools.· I can never condone coin-throwing or racial abuse.
· So they set up this fund to compensate victims in serious cases of abuse.· The way in which Gingrich and his assistants went about funding the program suggests a serious form of abuse.· Several years ago we wrote a paper in which we detailed a serious case of abuse of editorial power.· Many prisoners who actually had been newsmen had suffered serious abuse.· Today the situation isn't much better: it is estimated 250,000 elderly people are suffering serious abuse.· In some ways that is a more serious abuse than any yet alleged against Clinton.· But that is clearly a radical step, only likely to be taken when very serious abuse is involved.· What of scientists themselves - whose help can often make or break successful protests against serious abuses of science.
· All adults need to learn about solvent abuse and to be aware that it could happen to their children.· Our reporters uncovered a generation who have been sucked into a dark underworld of solvent abuse and hard drugs.· Social services say they're do all they can to make their charges aware of the dangers of solvent abuse.· So it's come to this; sitting in a hotel bar in New Orleans partaking in solvent abuse.· All the indicators show that parental support helps young people come through solvent abuse quicker.· Drugs include any intoxicant other than alcohol therefore even solvent abuse and driving may be covered by this offence.· It's become the leading cause of solvent abuse deaths.
· Even though he never physically abused me, the verbal abuse was frightening.· A solid majority shows strong correlation with disrespectful behavior, verbal abuse and physical aggression.· Some 30 % of exclusions were for bullying, and a further 14.9 % for verbal abuse.· In one fell swoop, the authors have denied the deeply traumatizing consequences of extreme verbal and emotional abuse.· The effects of verbal abuse can be shattering.· There were the violent outbursts, way out of proportion to any wrong done, and constant verbal abuse.· This is enough, it would seem, to precipitate the verbal and physical abuse which follows.· They had descended to their usual shouting of verbal abuse.
NOUN· The case of smoking and alcohol abuse illustrates the controversy.· Helping young people cope with the impact of drug and alcohol abuse is the focus of the play Coming To.· This may be because they generally suffer more serious problems, often complicated by personality difficulties and alcohol abuse.· It makes me nervous to see how large a problem alcohol abuse has become in their country.· Teenage depression, alcohol abuse, and even suicide are all attributed to the pressures of the exam system.· There is no convincing evidence that advertising influences total consumption or has an impact on levels of alcohol abuse.· Whilst the issue of alcohol abuse is quite properly a matter for concern, it should be seen in perspective.
· Treatment efforts in general are not very successful. Child abuse and neglect continue despite early, thoughtful, and often costly intervention.· And just what is child abuse?· There is no standardized definition of child abuse that has been developed by researchers and accepted by welfare professionals.· The judge insisted that the trial was not about child abuse.· Q: You mean you were a victim of child abuse?· There is definitely a link between domestic violence and child abuse.· It was a child's story about child abuse.· Spousal abuse is much in the news, as much or more so as child abuse.
· Is there a strong enough will to stamp out drug abuse?· But there is a lot of alcoholism and drug abuse associated with manic-depressive illness.· He says they've led to racial tension, crime and drug abuse.· In facing the challenge of drug abuse, the media have never been less monolithic.· Anthony Gould was said to be one of the most unpopular men in the prison because of a crusade against drug abuse.· Shalala noted that parents should talk with their children about drug abuse directly.· Ill health Drug abuse can lead to damage to main organs of the body, mental illness, malnutrition or death.· The sportswear giants broke off their deal with the world sprint champion who's awaiting a four-year ban for drug abuse.
· Controls would be set up at supermarket checkouts, and anyone buying too many cleaning compounds would be suspected of substance abuse.· But there is another side to the substance abuse equation that may make it less amenable to interventions.· Finally, the policy also aims to provide assistance to employees with other substance abuse problems.· Maybe, I am thinking, they should specialize in substance abuse.· In each case the primary diagnosis was substance abuse, and initial treatment was given accordingly.· These guys should get into substance abuse.· A questionnaire on patterns of substance abuse will be followed-up by in-depth interviews with pupils.· Remember that substance abuse treatment must address queerness.
· The results are clear to see: divorce, child and wife abuse, alcoholism and drug addiction.· The problem of wife abuse is not one of feminism, secular humanism or a lack of headship in the home.· None of this is to imply that Dobson is uncaring toward victims of wife abuse.· The fact that Dobson periodically addresses the issue of wife abuse in his speaking and writing is commendable in itself.· While media violence may exacerbate the problem of wife abuse, it does not cause it.· A search for the causes of wife abuse leads back to the family itself.
VERB· She heard the boys hurling abuse at her, shouting to her to stop, but she shut her ears to them.· When I first met her she had been hurling abuse at her daughters-in-law who took no notice whatsoever.
· In these circumstances the public interest in encouraging people to report cases of child abuse has been held to outweigh other interests.· This is a hot line established by state child welfare agencies for the reporting of child abuse.· Why did they wait? ... Social Services are criticised for failing to report child abuse.· Each state statute that mandates reporting of child abuse or neglect specifies the procedures reporters are required to follow.· Should counselors violate privileged communication by reporting suspected cases of abuse or neglect?· Other cities routinely reported police abuse.· Under recently passed statutes, teachers now also have a duty to report child abuse and neglect.
· Four other men and a 15-year-old youth were also held as the crowd continued to scream abuse.· She thought Mrs Magendanz had seen the old coot staggering around the house and screaming abuse at her.· I could scream abuse at him all day long; he wouldn't mind at all.· As we entered the building a white woman leaning from a balcony screamed a stream of abuse.
· In the presence of a large crowd in a public square the messengers shouted vulgar abuse at Vuk.· Relatives of Peter Williams began shouting and hurling abuse after magistrates refused to grant bail.· We'd slowly creep up on them then shout abuse and kick sand all over them.
· This of course has been well documented in the tragic cases of children suffering from abuse.· Instead, I suffered the slings and abuses of public health.· Even if they survive those patients undergoing suffocation are suffering unacceptable and repeated abuse.· Many prisoners who actually had been newsmen had suffered serious abuse.· Today the situation isn't much better: it is estimated 250,000 elderly people are suffering serious abuse.· The siblings claim they suffered a lifetime of abuse from their parents.· Educated people had become a despised group, just as during the Cultural Revolution, when they suffered verbal and physical abuse.· Even after all these years I still suffer from the mental abuse.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1[plural, uncountable] cruel or violent treatment of someone: - Community Care believes elder abuse is a major problem.
- In the overall case, the four-year statute of limitations on alleged fraud, theft and financial elder abuse expires in February.
- Intent could be a factor in defining elder abuse.
- Report on local authority guidelines on elder abuse.
- Researching the prevalence of elder abuse is notoriously difficult, and information on the abuse of black elders is non-existent.
- The incidence of elder abuse is hard to quantify.
- Oliver Stone, operating under a hail of criticism, was finishing a revisionist movie about the Kennedy assassination.
- She heard the boys hurling abuse at her, shouting to her to stop, but she shut her ears to them.
- There is not much to be achieved by hurling insults.
- When I first met her she had been hurling abuse at her daughters-in-law who took no notice whatsoever.
several cases of child abusephysical/sexual/racial abuse Many children suffer racial abuse at school. An independent committee will look into alleged human rights abuses.2[countable, uncountable] the use of something in a way that it should not be used SYN misuseabuse of government officials’ abuse of power A self-monitoring tax system is clearly open to abuse (=able to be used wrongly).alcohol/drug abuse (=the practice of drinking too much or taking illegal drugs) → solvent abuse3[uncountable] rude or offensive things that someone says when they are angry: vandalism and verbal abuse directed at old peoplea torrent/stream of abuse (=a series of rude or angry words)shout/hurl/scream abuse at somebody The other driver started hurling abuse at me. → a term of abuse at term1(3)abuse1 nounabuse2 verb
abusea‧buse2 /əˈbjuːz/ ●●○ verb [transitive] WORD ORIGINabuse2
Origin:
1400-1500 French abuser, from Latin abusus, past participle of abuti, from ab- ‘away’ + uti ‘to use’VERB TABLE
abuse
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | abuse |
| he, she, it | abuses | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | abused |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have abused |
| he, she, it | has abused | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had abused |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will abuse |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have abused |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am abusing |
| he, she, it | is abusing | |
| you, we, they | are abusing | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was abusing |
| you, we, they | were abusing | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been abusing |
| he, she, it | has been abusing | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been abusing |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be abusing |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been abusing |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- athletes abusing their bodies with steroids
- Erica runs a hostel for women who have been abused by their husbands.
- Erik testified he was sexually abused by his father since the age of 6.
- Local politicians abused their privileges to make themselves rich.
- Many of the kids are abusing drugs.
- Most people on welfare do not abuse the system.
- My father abused us for years.
- people who abuse the welfare system
- She was sexually abused as a child.
- Some lawyers seem to enjoy abusing witnesses.
- Some nursing home patients were neglected or abused.
- The men were getting drunk on cheap beer and some had started abusing passers-by.
- The player was reported to the tournament director for verbally abusing match officials.
- As we get older, we may be abused by other authority figures - teachers, doctors, bosses.
- Eleanor just abused him thoroughly, which wasn't very womanly in his opinion.
- He said du Pont frequently carried a. 38-caliber pistol on the estate and abused cocaine and alcohol.
- I ended up in Kibble List D. I just abused the teachers.
- It exists in every civilised society so that Governments, the rich and the powerful can not abuse their position.
- Time allowed 00:21 Read in studio A man who sexually abused a schoolgirl has been given probation.
- Unfortunately no management principle discussed in this book is more abused.
Longman Language Activatorto treat a person or animal in a cruel way
· My father drank too much and was often very cruel to my mother.· It is unspeakably cruel to the prisoners to house them in such conditions.
to deliberately treat a person or animal in a cruel way, especially when you are responsible for looking after them: · It looks as though this dog has been mistreated by its owner.· Neighbours were sure that the young couple had been ill-treating their children.
to be cruel to someone who is weaker, younger, or has less authority than you: · A group of girls would bully the younger kids, and force them to give them money.· The court heard that the head of department would routinely bully and humiliate workers.
to treat someone in your family or someone you are responsible for in a cruel way, especially violently or sexually: · My father abused us for years.· Erica runs a hostel for women who have been abused by their husbands.sexually abuse (=force someone to take part in sexual activities): · Erik testified he was sexually abused by his father since the age of 6.
to be cruel to a person or group of people over a period of time, because of their race or their religious or political beliefs: · Countries all over Europe have persecuted gypsies for centuries.· Human rights advocates say racial minorities continue to be persecuted.
informal to treat someone as if they were completely worthless and not care about their feelings: · She treats him like dirt but he still loves her.· I wanted us to be friends again, but I wasn't prepared to be treated like dirt to achieve it.
informal to choose someone from a group to treat cruelly and unfairly especially by repeatedly criticizing them: · Bullies usually pick on younger children.· Why don't you pick on someone your own size?· Older members of staff often pick on an apprentice and make his life a misery.
also victimise British if a person or group is victimized , they are treated unfairly, for example because of their beliefs, their race, or because they are weak: · He wasn't happy at the school and said he was victimized because of his colour.· The company says she was not dismissed because of her political activities but she claims she was victimized.
to be very rude to someone to be very rude and unpleasant to someone, either by saying rude things to them or by making them feel stupid or unimportant: · Jarvis was fired for insulting a customer.· They offered me $20 for a whole day's work - I felt really insulted.
to speak or behave towards someone in a way that offends them: · My mother doesn't like my boyfriend because he was rude to her once.· You shouldn't let her be so rude to you.
to say a lot of rude, offensive, unpleasant things to someone, especially when you are angry with them: · The men were getting drunk on cheap beer and some had started abusing passers-by.verbally abuse (=to say something very rude to someone): · The player was reported to the tournament director for verbally abusing match officials.
to shout a lot of rude and offensive things at someone: · The crowd screamed abuse as the two men accused of the murder left the court in police vans.· Strikers outside the factory gate were shouting abuse at anybody who tried to get past them.
to try to offend someone by calling them rude names in the way that children do: · He tried to make Oliver cry by hitting him, pulling his hair, and calling him names.· "She said I was a fat pig.'' "Oh, I've been called far worse names than that.''
if an action or someone's behaviour is an insult , it offends you because it shows no respect: · The pay offer of 2% was an insult.be an insult to: · The girl's father claimed the portrait revealing his daughter's face was an insult to Islam.
to attack or harm someone in a sexual way to force someone to have sex when they do not want to: · He was accused of raping his ex-girlfriend.· The woman was raped and then murdered by her kidnapper.
the crime of forcing someone to have sex when they do not want to: · It was not the first time he had been accused of rape.· Rape victims receive special counselling and are treated very sensitively.· A woman's sexual history should not be introduced in a rape trial.
to harm a child by forcing them to have sex or touching them in a sexual way, especially over a long period of time: · He had been sexually abusing his daughter since she was eleven years old.
to harm or upset someone by touching them in a sexual way: · Her father had molested her and her sisters when they were children.
when someone, especially someone you work with, regularly makes sexual remarks, looks at you in a sexual way, or tries to touch you in a sexual way that you do not want. Sexual harassment can be punished by law: · Victims of sexual harassment are often afraid to report it in case they lose their jobs.· She successfully prosecuted her boss for sexual harassment.
to use something wrongly to use something wrongly, for a purpose that was not intended: · Measures must be taken to prevent confidential data from being misused.· He is accused of misusing public funds.
to use something for a bad purpose, especially to use a position of power or trust in order to get a personal advantage: · Local politicians abused their privileges to make themselves rich.· people who abuse the welfare system
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY She was sexually abused as a child. Williams abused his position as mayor to give jobs to his friends. Morris abused the trust the firm had shown in him. people who abuse the system The proportion of drinkers who abuse alcohol is actually quite small. Many soldiers in Belfast are verbally abused. He came to the help of another driver who was being racially abused by three white passengers.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES alcohol abuse (=when someone drinks too much) flagrant violations of human rights Barker subjected his victim to awful abuse. a tirade of abuse When I asked him to move, he unleashed a torrent of abuse. verbal abuse (=cruel words) from other kids on the streetCOLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
She was sexually abused as a child. Williams abused his position as mayor to give jobs to his friends. Morris abused the trust the firm had shown in him. people who abuse the system The proportion of drinkers who abuse alcohol is actually quite small. Many soldiers in Belfast are verbally abused. He came to the help of another driver who was being racially abused by three white passengers. alcohol abuse (=when someone drinks too much) (=use your authority in a bad way)· The mayor was accused of abusing his authority and taking bribes.
(=treating children in a very bad way, especially sexually)· He was arrested on suspicion of child abuse.
(=in a family, especially by a husband towards his wife)· The organization supports women who are victims of domestic violence.
(=taking drugs)· She is being treated for drug abuse.
flagrant violations of human rights· He had suffered physical abuse at the hands of his parents.
· Her father had physically abused her.
(=use your level or rank wrongly)· He abused his position as a doctor.
(=a wrong or unfair use of power)· This cover-up is a scandalous abuse of power.
(=insulting remarks based on someone's race)· Their children had begun to face racial abuse on the streets and in school.
· He was surrounded by a group of boys who shouted abuse at him.
Barker subjected his victim to awful abuse. (=a word that is offensive or deliberately rude)· ‘Geek’ is used as a term of abuse.
a tirade of abuse When I asked him to move, he unleashed a torrent of abuse. verbal abuse (=cruel words) from other kids on the street· Even though he never physically abused me, the verbal abuse was frightening.· He claimed that both parents psychologically and physically abused him.· In 1986, a father of fifteen children then living in South Ronaldsay was jailed for physically abusing them.· Boyle cited a recent example of an elderly woman who was being physically abused.· He talked of his harsh, unsympathetic upbringing in which his often drunken father physically abused his wife and children.· BWhile not physically abused, Tamika, like most children of addicts, is emotionally starved.· My stepfather was strict and didn't let us have friends in the house; he physically abused me but not sexually.· A constellation of social difficulties has also been found to characterise parents who severely physically abuse their children.
· Lazio's Sinisa Mihailovic was banned for two matches for racially abusing Patrick Vieira.· They said both men had been racially abused before they died.· Mr Boyle told the jury that he had never racially abused or harassed Errol.
· Counselling & Therapy with women who have been sexually abused as children on Feb 17.· She noted that exceptions usually made are for children under the age of 10 who have been sexually abused.· This is also possible in children who have been sexually abused.· So are five former high-school students or others whom Hudson admitted sexually abusing or trying to abuse when he was a coach.· Abused A 13-year-old boy, the son of a Hollywood dentist, has alleged the 34-year-old multi-millionaire sexually abused him.· Potentially explosive subtext -- Annie was sexually abused as a child -- is pretty much left in the background.· They said parents sexually abused their children as part of a satanic ritual, and that these practices were widespread.· And sexually abused and physically battered kids run away from home.
· Less so is a creeping and curious menace of players being verbally abused.· The rest are elbows delivered, punches thrown, verbally abusing referees, skipping All-Star media day, obscene gestures, tantrum-throwing.· Referee Alf Buksh is understood to have complained in his match report of being verbally abused by officials from both teams.· Afterward, the plaintiffs asked for a court order prohibiting Lawrence from verbally abusing them.· The last time I had it, a woman reporter was humiliated and verbally abused in a National Football League locker room.· Rosemary was frequently absent or tardy and alternated between verbally abusing her teachers and flat-out ignoring them.
NOUN· Clearly many issues such as drug and alcohol abuse, prostitution, and even poverty are socially constructed problems.
· As we get older, we may be abused by other authority figures - teachers, doctors, bosses.· Local magistrates also abused their authority in order to influence voters.· Old mouth McEnroe, who can't stop himself from foully abusing anyone in authority with whom he disagrees.
· Social workers have a key role to play when some one suspects that a child is being abused.· School officials said that prior to Thanksgiving there were no indications to teachers or other educators that the children were being abused.· How do social workers go about investigating these complaints, and what leads them towards deciding that a child has been abused?· Outside of behaviors falling under the child abuse and neglect laws, there were virtually none.· Paying to view children being abused is causing the demand.· Also patrons of child abuse vic-tims.· We would not wish to outlaw parenthood on the grounds that some children are abused, even murdered, in the home.· Roughly half of those women abused as children had been abused in the past year.
· Clearly many issues such as drug and alcohol abuse, prostitution, and even poverty are socially constructed problems.· Drinking and drug abuse also lower immunity and tend to increase risky behaviors.
· In fact, around one-half of the cases can be identified solely from the headlines as persons abusing their positions of trust.· During his trial much was made of the way he had abused his position as a doctor.· It exists in every civilised society so that Governments, the rich and the powerful can not abuse their position.· Mostly he did not abuse this position, for he is a cautious man.· The Labour Party has not yet decided how it can stop a single-chamber Parliament from abusing its position.· At least, she hoped it was dignity, because she tried not to abuse her position of power.· But what makes Courtney especially dangerous is not that he abused his position as a doctor.· Predatory behaviour was discussed above, in the context of a firm abusing a dominant position.
· Nor do I deny that they sometimes abuse their power and are unfair to individuals.· Most writers abuse their power by exploiting their Sources.· Moscow is a grey city; comfort there is always tied to power, and power too frequently to abuse of power.· He now faces charges of having abused his power while in office.· At least, she hoped it was dignity, because she tried not to abuse her position of power.· I always tried to not abuse that power.· Friends of the victims demonstrated on the streets, calling for action against the culprits, who had abused their power.· The real Nixon was not a benign statesman but a ruthless, corrupt president who abused power on a spectacular scale.
· Those privy to sensitive information about mergers or acquisitions of companies worth millions or billions of pounds must not abuse that privilege.· The Committee criticized Gingrich for abusing mailing privileges and for failing to report a real estate deal.
· Estimates of substance abuse among the population range from 5 percent to 37 percent.
· It's encouraging them all to bloody well abuse the system so it is.· Critics say professional athletes have been abusing the generous California system by filing claims from out of state.· It's to stop people abusing the system.· Certainly, there are those among them who abuse the system.· They were open to abuse, and their system of controls did not always work.· They believed their children were being abused by the system set up to protect them.
· In fact, around one-half of the cases can be identified solely from the headlines as persons abusing their positions of trust.· But some doctors have a history of abusing that trust for profit, prescribing unnecessary and ineffective diet regimes to all comers.· Nevertheless, the whole basis of survey work is one of trust and relatively few interviewers abuse this trust.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1to treat someone in a cruel and violent way, often sexuallysexually/physically abused- Community Care believes elder abuse is a major problem.
- In the overall case, the four-year statute of limitations on alleged fraud, theft and financial elder abuse expires in February.
- Intent could be a factor in defining elder abuse.
- Report on local authority guidelines on elder abuse.
- Researching the prevalence of elder abuse is notoriously difficult, and information on the abuse of black elders is non-existent.
- The incidence of elder abuse is hard to quantify.
- Oliver Stone, operating under a hail of criticism, was finishing a revisionist movie about the Kennedy assassination.
- She heard the boys hurling abuse at her, shouting to her to stop, but she shut her ears to them.
- There is not much to be achieved by hurling insults.
- When I first met her she had been hurling abuse at her daughters-in-law who took no notice whatsoever.
She was sexually abused as a child.2to deliberately use something for the wrong purpose or for your own advantage: Williams abused his position as mayor to give jobs to his friends. Morris abused the trust the firm had shown in him. people who abuse the systemabuse alcohol/drugs The proportion of drinkers who abuse alcohol is actually quite small.3to say rude or offensive things to someone SYN insult: Many soldiers in Belfast are verbally abused. He came to the help of another driver who was being racially abused by three white passengers.4to treat something so badly that you start to destroy it: James abused his body for years with heroin and cocaine.—abuser noun [countable]