adj
Common
abused
uh-BYOOZD
Abused (adj) means having suffered mistreatment, especially violence or cruelty. Example: “The rescued dog was abused by its previous owner and still flinches.”
adj
1
Having suffered mistreatment, especially violence or cruelty.
"The rescued dog was abused by its previous owner and still flinches."
"Many abused children find it hard to trust adults at first."
"The shelter cares for abused and neglected animals."
2
Used excessively or in a way that causes harm.
"Antibiotics are an abused medicine, and overuse makes them less effective."
"The free parking permit was abused by a few careless drivers."
"Overtime pay is an abused benefit at some companies."
How to use abused
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes someone (or something) that has been treated badly or used wrongly.
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more abused
- Superlative
- most abused
- Verb form
- abus'd
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The rescued dog was _____ by its previous owner and still flinches.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
unabused
Related words
Rhymes for abused
See all rhymes for abused →Frequently asked questions
What does “abused” mean?
The word “abused” means having suffered mistreatment, especially violence or cruelty. In plain terms, describes someone (or something) that has been treated badly or used wrongly.
How do you pronounce “abused”?
“Abused” is pronounced uh-BYOOZD (/əˈbjuːzd/ in IPA).
How do you use “abused” in a sentence?
Here is “abused” used in a sentence: “The shelter cares for abused and neglected animals.”
What part of speech is “abused”?
“Abused” is an adjective.
Is “abused” a common word?
“Abused” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “abused” have?
“Abused” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: having suffered mistreatment, especially violence or cruelty.
What is the difference between abused and misused?
Misused means used wrongly or for the wrong purpose, and it usually applies to things, such as misused funds or a misused word. Abused is stronger: it means having suffered mistreatment, especially violence or cruelty, or being used excessively in a way that causes harm. Something can be misused once by mistake; calling it abused suggests repeated, damaging treatment.
Is abused an adjective or a verb form?
It is both. Abused is the past tense and past participle of the verb abuse, as in "they abused the system." It also works as an adjective before a noun, as in "an abused animal," meaning one that has suffered mistreatment.
Can abused describe things as well as people?
Yes. Applied to people or animals, abused means having suffered mistreatment, especially violence or cruelty. Applied to things, it means used excessively or harmfully, as in "an abused privilege" or "one of the most abused words in advertising."
