abusive

comparative more abusive · superlative most abusive

1. Prone to treat someone badly by coarse, insulting words or other maltreatment; vituperative; reproachful; scurrilous.First known use First attested in the early 17th century.

   All they could ever do was to shout abusive inanities at me.

   1 more example

   "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

   Synonyms: scurrilous, reproachful, scurrilous, opprobrious, insolent, insulting, injurious, offensive

2. obsoleteTending to deceive; fraudulent.First known use Attested only from the early to mid 17th century.

   an abusive treaty

   a. 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. archaicTending to misuse; practising or containing abuse.First known use First attested in the late 16th century.

   the abusive prerogatives of his see

   1837, Henry Hallam, Introduction to the Literature of Europe

   1 more example

   […] 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

4. Being physically or emotionally injurious; characterized by repeated violence or other abuse.
5. Wrongly used; perverted; misapplied; unjust; illegal.First known use First attested in the mid 16th century.

   I am […]necessitated to use the word Parliament improperly, according to the abusive acceptation thereof.

   1662, Thomas Fuller, Worthies of England

6. archaicCatachrestic.First known use First attested in the mid 16th century.