abused

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.

“Abused” is pronounced uh-BYOOZD (/əˈbjuːzd/ in IPA).

Here is “abused” used in a sentence: “The shelter cares for abused and neglected animals.”

“Abused” is an adjective.

“Abused” is a fairly common word in modern English.

“Abused” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: having suffered mistreatment, especially violence or cruelty.

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.

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.

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."