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Noun abuse has 3 senses
- maltreatment, ill-treatment, ill-usage, abuse - cruel or inhumane treatment
--1 is a kind of mistreatment
--1 has particulars:
- abuse, insult, revilement, contumely, vilification - a rude expression intended to offend or hurt; "when a student made a stupid mistake he spared them no abuse"; "they yelled insults at the visiting team"
--2 is a kind of disrespect, discourtesy
--2 has particulars:
- misuse, abuse - improper or excessive use
--3 is a kind of use, usage, utilization, utilisation, employment, exercise
--3 has particulars: substance abuse, drug abuse, habit
Verb abuse has 3 senses
- mistreat, maltreat, abuse, ill-use, step, ill-treat - treat badly; "This boss abuses his workers"; "She is always stepping on others to get ahead"
--1 is one way to treat, handle, do by
Sample sentence:
They want to abuse the prisoners
- pervert, misuse, abuse - change the inherent purpose or function of something; "Don't abuse the system"; "The director of the factory misused the funds intended for the health care of his workers"
--2 is one way to use, expend
Sample sentence:
Somebody ----s something
- abuse, clapperclaw, blackguard, shout - use foul or abusive language towards; "The actress abused the policeman who gave her a parking ticket"; "The angry mother shouted at the teacher"
--3 is one way to attack, round, assail, lash out, snipe, assault
Sample sentence:
Somebody ----s somebody
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