abusive

/ə'bju:siv/

Thân thiện

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Characterized by physical or psychological maltreatment: "Abusive" describes actions, behaviors, or situations that involve cruel, violent, or harmful treatment, especially by someone in a position of power or trust.
   • Expressing offensive reproach: "Abusive" also describes language that is insulting, harsh, and intended to hurt or degrade someone.

Usage

• The adjective "abusive" is used to modify nouns describing people, behavior, language, relationships, or systems.
• It often implies a pattern of behavior rather than a single, isolated incident.
• Common collocations include: , , , , .

Examples

• Describing harmful treatment:
  • She left the abusive relationship to protect herself and her children.
  • The investigation uncovered abusive practices within the institution.
• Describing insulting language:
  • He was fired for using abusive language towards his colleagues.
  • The politician's abusive remarks were widely condemned.

Advanced Usage

• "to be abusive towards someone": to treat someone in a cruel, violent, or insulting manner.
  • The manager was accused of being abusive towards his staff.
• "emotionally/verbally/physically abusive": These phrases specify the type of harmful behavior.
  • The documentary highlighted the long-term effects of verbally abusive parenting.

Variants and Related Words

• Abuse (n/v): The noun form refers to the cruel or violent treatment, or the insulting language itself. The verb means to treat cruelly or use insulting language.
  • Child abuse is a serious crime. (n)
  • He never abused his authority. (v)
• Abusively (adv): In a cruel or insulting manner.
  • He spoke abusively to the customer service agent.
• Abuser (n): A person who treats someone cruelly or violently.
  • The program aims to rehabilitate convicted abusers.

Synonyms

• Mistreating: Treating badly or cruelly.
• Insulting: Speaking to or treating with disrespect or scorn.
• Oppressive: Unjustly inflicting hardship and constraint.
• Vituperative: Bitter and abusive language.

Antonyms

• Respectful: Showing deference and esteem.
• Complimentary: Expressing praise or admiration.
• Kind: Having a friendly, generous, or considerate nature.
• Nurturing: Providing care and encouragement.

Related Phrases

• Abusive relationship: A relationship where one partner consistently mistreats the other.
  • It took her years to recognize she was in an abusive relationship.
• Abuse of power: The improper use of authority for personal gain or to harm others.
  • The scandal was a clear case of abuse of power.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. characterized by physical or psychological maltreatment
   • abusive punishment
   • argued...that foster homes are abusive
2. expressing offensive reproach

Từ đồng nghĩa

• opprobrious
• scurrilous