abusive — treating someone or something with cruelty or violence, especially regularly or repeatedly
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: treating someone or something with cruelty or violence, especially regularly or repeatedly
Pronunciation (IPA): /əˈbjuːsɪv/
Example Sentences
- My smartphone keeps sending me abusive notifications about my shopping habits.
- The coach was fired for his abusive treatment of young athletes.
- She decided to leave the abusive marriage after ten years.
abusive
ADJECTIVE[/əˈbjuːsɪv/]
treating someone or something with cruelty or violence, especially regularly or repeatedly
The abusive boss yells at a trembling worker holding a coffee cup.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Derived from Latin abusus, the past participle of abuti, meaning 'to misuse' or 'use wrongly.' The term evolved from denoting improper use to encompassing harmful or violent misuse, particularly in interpersonal contexts.
Breakdown
ab- (away, off) + uti (to use) + -ive (adjective suffix), literally 'using away' or 'misusing,' eventually meaning 'characterized by misuse or harm.'
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My smartphone keeps sending me abusive notifications about my shopping habits.”
“The coach was fired for his abusive treatment of young athletes.”
“She decided to leave the abusive marriage after ten years.”
“Even my GPS has become abusive, constantly telling me I'm going the wrong way.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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