Abusive
[ə'bjuːsɪv] or [ə'bjʊsɪv]
Definition
(adj.) characterized by physical or psychological maltreatment; 'abusive punishment'; 'argued...that foster homes are abusive' .
(adj.) expressing offensive reproach .
Editor: Orville--From WordNet
Definition
(a.) Wrongly used; perverted; misapplied.
(a.) Given to misusing; also, full of abuses.
(a.) Practicing abuse; prone to ill treat by coarse, insulting words or by other ill usage; as, an abusive author; an abusive fellow.
(a.) Containing abuse, or serving as the instrument of abuse; vituperative; reproachful; scurrilous.
(a.) Tending to deceive; fraudulent; cheating.
Typed by Lesley
Synonyms and Synonymous
a. Reproachful, opprobrious, scurrilous, ribald, contumelious, vituperative, condemnatory, damnatory, invective, calumnious, denunciatory, insulting, insolent.
Typed by Felix
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Insulting, insolent, offensive, opprobrious, reproachful, vituperative, rude,denunciatory, scurrilous
ANT:Respectful, kind, panegyrical, laudatory, attentive
Inputed by Eleanor
Examples
- You're a scolding, unjust, abusive, aggravating, bad old creature! Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- They did so, and the besieging party grew noisy and more and more abusive as the fact became apparent (to them) that our men were afraid to come out. Mark Twain. The Innocents Abroad.
- The counsel were eloquent, argumentative, and vindictively abusive of each other, as was characteristic and proper. Mark Twain. The Innocents Abroad.
- Nay, that would be abusive. Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls.
- Say something abusive to me! Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
Inputed by Eleanor