adj
Common
abusive
uh-BYOO-sihv
Abusive (adj) means behaving in a cruel, violent, or insulting way toward someone. Example: “He became abusive whenever he drank too much.”
adj
1
Behaving in a cruel, violent, or insulting way toward someone.
"He became abusive whenever he drank too much."
"The coach was fired after abusive comments toward players surfaced."
"The customer grew abusive and started shouting at the staff."
2
Involving or characterized by misuse, such as wrongful or illegal use.
"The company was accused of abusive tax practices."
How to use abusive
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCruel, violent, or insulting in behavior — or, less commonly, describing wrongful misuse of something.
Common pairings
abusive relationship
abusive language
verbally abusive
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more abusive
- Superlative
- most abusive
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He became _____ whenever he drank too much.
Etymology
From French abusif, ultimately from Latin abusivus, related to abuse.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
abuseless
nonabusive
unabusive
Related words
Rhymes for abusive
See all rhymes for abusive →Frequently asked questions
What does “abusive” mean?
The word “abusive” means behaving in a cruel, violent, or insulting way toward someone. In plain terms, cruel, violent, or insulting in behavior — or, less commonly, describing wrongful misuse of something.
How do you pronounce “abusive”?
“Abusive” is pronounced uh-BYOO-sihv (/əˈbju.sɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “abusive” in a sentence?
Here is “abusive” used in a sentence: “He became abusive whenever he drank too much.”
What is the opposite of “abusive”?
The opposite of “abusive” — its antonyms — are abuseless, nonabusive and unabusive.
What part of speech is “abusive”?
“Abusive” is an adjective.
Where does the word “abusive” come from?
The word “abusive” comes from Latin. From French abusif, ultimately from Latin abusivus, related to abuse.
Is “abusive” a common word?
“Abusive” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “abusive” have?
“Abusive” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: behaving in a cruel, violent, or insulting way toward someone.
What is the difference between "abusive" and "aggressive"?
"Abusive" describes cruel, violent, or insulting treatment that harms someone, while "aggressive" describes forceful, pushy, or hostile behaviour that is not always harmful. A person can be aggressive without being abusive, but abusive behaviour is a more serious mistreatment.
What is the difference between "abusive" and "offensive"?
"Abusive" refers to cruel or insulting treatment directed at a person, while "offensive" means causing hurt feelings or disgust more generally. Language can be offensive without targeting anyone, but abusive language is aimed at demeaning or hurting a specific person.
What nouns commonly follow "abusive"?
"Abusive" often pairs with words like "language," "behaviour," "relationship," "partner," and "email." It can also describe misuse, as in "abusive practices" or "abusive schemes."
Can "abusive" describe something other than a person?
Yes. Besides cruel or insulting behaviour, "abusive" can mean involving misuse, such as wrongful or illegal use, as in "abusive business practices." In this sense it points to the improper use of power, systems, or rules.
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