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
abusively
adverb
abusiveness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of abusive in a Sentence
The fans yelled abusive comments to the referee.
protecting wives from abusive husbands
Recent Examples on the Web
Lakota-Lynch plays Johnny Cade, a shy 16-year-old from an abusive home.
—
Juan A. Ramírez, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2024
The account’s bio included antisemitic tropes that violated X’s policy against abusive profiles, Benarroch said.
—David Ingram, NBC News, 18 Apr. 2024
The lawsuit claims the boy suffered months of abusive behavior under teacher Julious Johnican, but that the school didn't take the allegations seriously until the inadvertent disclosure of the video in November.
—Tony Cook, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
Another telltale sign is if symptoms ease when the child is separated from the abusive caregiver.
—Sarah Klein, TIME, 18 Apr. 2024
At age 18, Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1653) survived the abusive manipulations of rape by the painter Agostino Tassi, a colleague in her studio.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2024
Resentment or Unresolved Feelings About the Ex Being cheated on or in an abusive relationship can leave a deep imprint on one’s psyche and lead to an ex appearing in dreams.
—Lisa Wong MacAbasco, Vogue, 13 Apr. 2024
Advocates gathered Friday morning at Sojourner Family Peace Center for a news conference in hopes of reaching people who may be living in abusive situations and are reading or watching the news.
—Sophie Carson, Journal Sentinel, 12 Apr. 2024
Mentally unstable, abusive Hall said that she and the children's father were separated, and engaged in a two-year custody battle.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 5 Apr. 2024
Juan A. Ramírez, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2024
The account’s bio included antisemitic tropes that violated X’s policy against abusive profiles, Benarroch said.
—David Ingram, NBC News, 18 Apr. 2024
The lawsuit claims the boy suffered months of abusive behavior under teacher Julious Johnican, but that the school didn't take the allegations seriously until the inadvertent disclosure of the video in November.
—Tony Cook, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
Another telltale sign is if symptoms ease when the child is separated from the abusive caregiver.
—Sarah Klein, TIME, 18 Apr. 2024
At age 18, Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1653) survived the abusive manipulations of rape by the painter Agostino Tassi, a colleague in her studio.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2024
Resentment or Unresolved Feelings About the Ex Being cheated on or in an abusive relationship can leave a deep imprint on one’s psyche and lead to an ex appearing in dreams.
—Lisa Wong MacAbasco, Vogue, 13 Apr. 2024
Advocates gathered Friday morning at Sojourner Family Peace Center for a news conference in hopes of reaching people who may be living in abusive situations and are reading or watching the news.
—Sophie Carson, Journal Sentinel, 12 Apr. 2024
Mentally unstable, abusive Hall said that she and the children's father were separated, and engaged in a two-year custody battle.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 5 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'abusive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near abusive
Cite this Entry
“Abusive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abusive. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
abusive
adjective
abu·sive
ə-ˈbyü-siv
-ziv
: using or characterized by abuse
abusively
adverb
abusiveness
noun
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
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