as in maltreated
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1
as in bullied
to inflict physical or emotional harm upon
if you abuse your pet, he will always have an ugly disposition
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in attacked
to criticize harshly and usually publicly
a demanding, difficult patient who constantly abuses the nurses and aides
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in misused
to put to a bad or improper use
if you abuse your baseball bat by using it to hammer nails, don't expect it to last long
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in exploited
to take unfair advantage of
abused his parents' trust, pilfering small amounts from them that he hoped they wouldn't notice
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of abused
Ryan Brennan
april 16,
Miami Herald,
16 Apr. 2026
Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor While wandering in the West Virginia hills, 11-year-old Marty finds an abused beagle, who immediately takes a shine to him.
—
Libby Monteith Minor,
Southern Living,
28 Feb. 2026
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
27 June 2026
Many of the children were being abused by adults, according to court records.
—
Rachel Roberts,
Idaho Statesman,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for abused
Adjective
The nonprofit focuses on homeless, abused and unwanted animals, working to match them with suitable adoptive homes and staying involved after adoption.
—
Ryan Brennan
april 16,
Miami Herald,
16 Apr. 2026
Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor While wandering in the West Virginia hills, 11-year-old Marty finds an abused beagle, who immediately takes a shine to him.
—
Libby Monteith Minor,
Southern Living,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
The Vanderpump Rules alum claimed that Victoria verbally and physically abused him on June 3, according to a court filing obtained by PEOPLE.
—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
27 June 2026
Many of the children were being abused by adults, according to court records.
—
Rachel Roberts,
Idaho Statesman,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for abused
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abused
Verb
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They got bullied in that one, showing a tremendous lack of physicality.
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Because he was being completely bullied and demeaned and excused.
Verb
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Police said former professional soccer player Badea and another man attacked Zeraati before fleeing in a getaway car driven by Stana and then flying out of the country from Heathrow Airport.
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The three men who attacked our CBS News Chicago crew near Adler Planetarium before pointing a gun at people in Brighton Park on Monday afternoon have been charged.
Verb
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Anthropic released Claude Fable 5 to the public earlier this month, with safeguards the company said would reduce the risk of it being misused for cyberattacks or other nefarious purposes.
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The Press-Enterprise reported a Riverside County supervisor is seeking an investigation into whether the sheriff misused public resources, including his uniform, official events, county equipment, and the sheriff’s office’s social media channels, during his run for governor.
Verb
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Social media has exploited this tendency, driving an algorithmic wedge into our society that the founders could hardly have imagined.
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The book is often about the ways in which wellness and self-care have become commodified and exploited — having to level up to buy things in order to feel good.
Verb
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Walker was abducted, raped, tortured and murdered after attending a Valentine’s Day dance with her boyfriend.
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The actual abduction was committed, according to the feds, by supermarket owner Abu Chowdhury — who’s accused of heading a kidnapping ring that also snatched and tortured two men who crossed his vengeful wife, Iffat Lubna.
Verb
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In a scathing Instagram post this morning, LuPone, who has long been devoted to her equally enamored gay fandom, slammed Turkey’s latest homophobic move.
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Investigators said the Tesla slammed through a brick home at a high rate of speed, fatally striking Avila.
Verb
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The Constitution has been perverted in ways by administrations on both sides of the aisle to facilitate military action.
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Organized sports can easily be perverted.
Verb
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The Hyundai Motor Company used one of the world’s largest sporting stages to showcase its robotics ambitions.
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For instance, in Berkeley, neighbors used CEQA — citing potential noise impact from partying students — to delay, for years, UC Berkeley’s construction of student dorms on People’s Park.
Cite this Entry
“Abused.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abused. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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