abusive
adjective
abu·sive ə-ˈbyü-siv 
also -ziv
1
a
: using harsh, insulting language
an angry and abusive crowd
b
: harsh and insulting
abusive language
c
: using or involving physical violence or emotional cruelty
abusive behavior
an abusive husband
an abusive relationship
2
: characterized by wrong or improper use or action
especially : corrupt
abusive financial practices
abusively adverb
abusiveness noun
Synonyms
- contumelious
- invective
- opprobrious
- scurrile
- scurril
- scurrilous
- truculent
- vitriolic
- vituperative
- vituperatory
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The fans yelled abusive comments to the referee. protecting wives from abusive husbands
Recent Examples on the Web Elsewhere, another teenage outcast, Caspian (Paul Dano), suffers snide comments in school and much crueler ones from his abusive father (Aaron Eckhart) at home. 
Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Sep. 2022 Beginning in 1969, the narrative flashes back to gradually unspool the story of Kya (Edgar-Jones), who is abandoned by her family at a young age and left alone with her violently abusive father (Garret Dillahunt). Brian Lowry, CNN, 13 July 2022 Johnson’s mother and aunt had run away from an abusive father to live in Philadelphia. Ricardo Nagaoka, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2022 During what felt like a therapy session between the women, Chanel tearfully opened up to Sara about her abusive father and how that triggered her feelings on the situation with Caroline. Lanae Brody, PEOPLE.com, 8 June 2022 In a recent interview with People, DiMarco said his physically abusive father — who is deaf but grew up with hearing parents — lacked access to American Sign Language education, which manifested in negative ways. Angela Yang, NBC News, 1 June 2022 Wendy says too-da-loo to her abusive father, buying his silence with a donation to Ben’s missing-person fund. Lauren Puckett-pope, ELLE, 1 May 2022 Mathilda is only 12 years old, but is already familiar with the dark side of life: her abusive father stores drugs for corrupt police officers, and her mother neglects her. Travis Bean, Forbes, 23 Apr. 2022 Christina Aguilera narrates her mother’s story of dealing with her emotionally abusive father while celebrating her mother’s strength in an empathetic way only a child who witnessed it all could. Keith Nelson, Men's Health, 12 Apr. 2022 See More
Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Sep. 2022 Beginning in 1969, the narrative flashes back to gradually unspool the story of Kya (Edgar-Jones), who is abandoned by her family at a young age and left alone with her violently abusive father (Garret Dillahunt). Brian Lowry, CNN, 13 July 2022 Johnson’s mother and aunt had run away from an abusive father to live in Philadelphia. Ricardo Nagaoka, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2022 During what felt like a therapy session between the women, Chanel tearfully opened up to Sara about her abusive father and how that triggered her feelings on the situation with Caroline. Lanae Brody, PEOPLE.com, 8 June 2022 In a recent interview with People, DiMarco said his physically abusive father — who is deaf but grew up with hearing parents — lacked access to American Sign Language education, which manifested in negative ways. Angela Yang, NBC News, 1 June 2022 Wendy says too-da-loo to her abusive father, buying his silence with a donation to Ben’s missing-person fund. Lauren Puckett-pope, ELLE, 1 May 2022 Mathilda is only 12 years old, but is already familiar with the dark side of life: her abusive father stores drugs for corrupt police officers, and her mother neglects her. Travis Bean, Forbes, 23 Apr. 2022 Christina Aguilera narrates her mother’s story of dealing with her emotionally abusive father while celebrating her mother’s strength in an empathetic way only a child who witnessed it all could. Keith Nelson, Men's Health, 12 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Anglo-French abusif "misplaced, wrong, in error," borrowed from Late Latin abūsīvus "misused, catachrestic," from Latin abūsus, past participle of abūtī "to abuse entry 2" + -īvus -ive
First Known Use
1538, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Kids Definition
abusive
adjective
abu·sive ə-ˈbyü-siv
-ziv
1
: using or involving harmful treatment
2
: using harsh insulting language
abusive comments
Legal Definition
abusive
adjective
abu·sive ə-ˈbyü-siv, -ziv
1
: characterized by wrong or improper use or action
abusive tax shelters
2
: inflicting verbal or physical abuse
abusive parents
abusively
adverb
as in viciously
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- viciously
- savagely
- brutishly
- inhumanely
- tyrannically
- ruthlessly
- insensitively
- mercilessly
- inhumanly
- aggressively
- callously
- unmercifully
- heartlessly
- pitilessly
- uncharitably
- unfeelingly
- unsparingly
- strongly
- obdurately
- assertively
- harshly
- brutally
- toughly
- oppressively
- determinedly
- firmly
- severely
- resolutely
- grimly
- sternly
- cold-bloodedly
- gruffly
- decidedly
- ill
- insensately
- stiffly
- hard-heartedly
- roughly
- hard
- hardly
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- lightly
- leniently
- gently
- softly
- mildly
- lovingly
- benevolently
- tenderly
- kindly
- considerately
- graciously
- cordially
- compassionately
- sympathetically
- charitably
- humanely
- tolerantly
- mercifully
- benignantly
- clemently
- understandingly
- softheartedly