as in insulting
marked by harsh insulting language
never one to believe that honorable people can disagree honorably, he invariably launches abusive attacks against anyone who dares to challenge him
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Recent Examples of abusive
The 1930s were an era of great constitutional tumult, resulting in part from a conservative majority’s departure from Chief Justice William Howard Taft’s relatively tolerant view of the federal commerce power and the court’s retreat from initially abusive decisions.
—
George Liebmann, Baltimore Sun, 23 Feb. 2025
Childhood’s a hugely impressionable time, even when you’re not being brought on the set of Psycho II to re-create the abusive early years of a murderous character played as an adult by your own father.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025
His character is the family patriarch and an abusive alcoholic.
—Michael Paulson, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025
Similarly, another Bill would change the award of attorney fees from mandatory to only discretionary for the defendant who has fought off abusive litigation to stifle their free speech rights.
—Jay Adkisson, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abusive
George Liebmann, Baltimore Sun, 23 Feb. 2025
Childhood’s a hugely impressionable time, even when you’re not being brought on the set of Psycho II to re-create the abusive early years of a murderous character played as an adult by your own father.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025
His character is the family patriarch and an abusive alcoholic.
—Michael Paulson, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025
Similarly, another Bill would change the award of attorney fees from mandatory to only discretionary for the defendant who has fought off abusive litigation to stifle their free speech rights.
—Jay Adkisson, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abusive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abusive
Adjective
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Even more difficult in the day-to-day is Donald Trump’s relentless and insulting commentary.—
Ken Dryden,
The Atlantic,
23 Feb. 2025
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The incredibly insulting idea of canceling the name of the prolific U.S. Rep. Henry Hyde was bad enough.—
Naperville Sun,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Bhattacharya has in the past been tolerant of others’ more outrageous claims about vaccines.—
Daniel Engber,
The Atlantic,
7 Mar. 2025
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However, a moment of arguably even greater quality later in the first half drew the Colchoneros level as Julián Alvarez evaded a defender and curled an outrageous effort in off the post.—
George Ramsay,
CNN,
5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), individuals may not block access to sidewalks or buildings, disrupt counterprotests, or engage in speech that is obscene, makes knowingly false statements of fact, or incites immediate violence or dangerous disturbances.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
5 Mar. 2025
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There is absolutely nothing in libraries across the state that is obscene.—
Laura Tillman,
Hartford Courant,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Seattle needs at least one of these players to blossom into a starting-caliber offensive lineman.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
The Athletic,
10 Mar. 2025
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The Rams have been trying to trade veteran receiver Cooper Kupp, the 2021 NFL offensive player of the year, who is scheduled to earn about $20 million in salary and bonuses.—
Gary Klein,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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As the technology behind deepfakes advances, the need to fight their malicious usage has never been greater.—
Rohan Pinto,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
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Now, Microsoft has identified a resurfaced malware that has returned after years, equipped with new malicious capabilities, including stealing sensitive information such as digital wallets and data from the legitimate Notes app.—
Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report,
Fox News,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Trump’s vituperative persona, his enmity toward multilateralism, and his extreme policy agenda could easily sink the United States’ prospects for meaningful leadership of the G-20.—
Leslie Vinjamuri,
Foreign Affairs,
15 Nov. 2024
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Unlike Rhoades, a vituperative colossus, however, Williams brings a steely determination and a Joe Friday, just-the-facts mien to his lawyering in the court of public opinion.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
4 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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One upshot was Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, which to this day insulates social media from legal liability for the content — however incendiary or scurrilous — that users post.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2025
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Facts won’t deter Republicans on this point, however, for the same reason that Trump and his running mate, J. D. Vance, keep repeating their scurrilous lies about Haitian immigrants eating the pets of Ohio: white anxiety about a diversifying country has become one of the Party’s greatest assets.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
The New Yorker,
22 Sep. 2024
Adjective
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Vanya absconds from the house, leaving Ani, who surprises Toros with her strength and invective.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
28 Feb. 2025
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Newsletter On Politics In an era of invective and distrust, two California candidates turned a tie over to chance.—
Jess Bidgood,
New York Times,
19 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Abusive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abusive. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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