Pronunciation: /əˈbjuz/
noun cruel or violent treatment of a person or animal
A1 Abuse of power is never acceptable.
A2 Child abuse is a serious problem that needs to be addressed.
B1 Emotional abuse can have long-lasting effects on a person's mental health.
B2 Domestic abuse is a complex issue that requires intervention from trained professionals.
C1 The abuse of prescription drugs is a growing concern in many countries.
C2 Systemic abuse within institutions must be rooted out and addressed to prevent further harm.
verb to treat a person or animal with cruelty or violence
A1 He abused his power by yelling at his employees.
A2 She was abused by her partner for years before seeking help.
B1 The company was accused of abusing their monopoly in the market.
B2 The politician was caught abusing public funds for personal gain.
C1 The coach was fired for abusing his players both physically and verbally.
C2 The dictator was known for abusing human rights and suppressing dissent.
formal The company has strict policies in place to prevent any form of abuse in the workplace.
informal She confided in me about the abuse she experienced from her partner.
slang I can't believe he would abuse his power like that.
figurative The constant criticism felt like emotional abuse.
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