abusive
adjUK /əˈbjuː.sɪv/ · US /əˈbju.sɪv/
Etymology First attested in the 1530s. From French abusif, from Latin abūsīvus, from abusus + -ivus (“-ive”). Equivalent to abuse + -ive.
1
Prone to treat someone badly by coarse, insulting words or other maltreatment; vituperative; reproachful; scurrilous.
- All they could ever do was to shout abusive inanities at me.
- "Zero Tolerance. Aggressive and abusive behavior will not be tolerated. Our team are here to help, not hurt," the signs read.2020 March 17, Freya Noble, “'Our team are here to help, not hurt': Woolworths urge customers not to abuse staff”, in Nine News, archived from the original on 16 Apr 2023:
2
Obsolete Tending to deceive; fraudulent.
- an abusive treatya. 1627 (date written), Francis [Bacon], “Considerations Touching a Warre with Spaine. […]”, in William Rawley, editor, Certaine Miscellany Works of the Right Honourable Francis Lo. Verulam, Viscount S. Alban. […], London: […] I. Hauiland for Humphrey Robinson, […], published 1629, →OCLC:
3
Archaic Tending to misuse; practising or containing abuse.
- […] to begin in this vacation the foundation of a trifling subject which might shroud in his leaves the abusive enormities of these our times.1589, Thomas Nashe, The Anatomy of Absurdity:
- the abusive prerogatives of his see1837, Henry Hallam, Introduction to the Literature of Europe:
4
Being physically or emotionally injurious; characterized by repeated violence or other abuse.
5
Wrongly used; perverted; misapplied; unjust; illegal.
- I am […]necessitated to use the word Parliament improperly, according to the abusive acceptation thereof.1662, Thomas Fuller, Worthies of England:
6
Archaic Catachrestic.
- Synonyms
- reproachful, scurrilous, opprobrious, insolent, insulting, injurious, offensive, reviling, berating, vituperative
- Antonyms
- abuseless, nonabusive, unabusive
- Derived terms
- abusively, abusiveness, abusivity