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

Examples of abusive in a Sentence

The fans yelled abusive comments to the referee.

protecting wives from abusive husbands

Recent Examples on the Web

The 2014 legislation also benefited the children of veterans and students without reliable housing or living in abusive households. —Alexandra Glorioso, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2025

The departure follows in the wake of a number of European cinema bodies and figures quitting X in recent months – including the Berlinale and Venice head Alberto Barbera – amid concerns about a surge in disinformation and abusive content on the platform since Musk took ownership in 2022. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 27 Jan. 2025

The story centers on Lily, a woman who overcomes a traumatic childhood with an abusive father to begin a new life in Boston. —Shania Russell, EW.com, 23 Jan. 2025

The movie was based on Hoover’s best-selling 2016 novel about Lily Bloom (played by Lively) and how her boyfriend Ryle Kincaid (played by Baldoni) turns abusive in their relationship. —Charna Flam, People.com, 23 Jan. 2025

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

: 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