English · Word Candidate

abuse

/əˈbjuːs/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: abuses · abusing · abused

Sense 1

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

Improper treatment or usage; application to a wrong or bad purpose; an unjust, corrupt or wrongful practice or custom.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Sự đối xử không đúng hoặc sử dụng; áp dụng cho một mục đích sai hoặc xấu; một hành tập hoặc phong tục bất công, tham nhũng hoặc sai trái

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Noun

Examples

human rights abuses

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

Misuse; improper use; perversion.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Lạm dụng; sử dụng không đúng; bóp méo

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Noun

Examples

Liberty may be endangered by the abuses of liberty, as well as by the abuses of power.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

To put to a wrong use; to misapply; to use improperly; to use for a wrong purpose or end; to pervert

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Đặt vào sử dụng sai; áp dụng sai; sử dụng không đúng; sử dụng cho một mục đích hoặc mục tiêu sai; bóp méo

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Verb

Examples

He abused his authority.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

To injure; to maltreat; to hurt; to treat with cruelty, especially repeatedly.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Làm bị thương; đối xử tàn ác; gây hại; đối xử với sự tàn bạo, đặc biệt là lặp đi lặp lại

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Verb

Examples

Blows with the fist should be given on the back of the woman, which she is sitting on the lap of the man, and she should give blows in return, abusing the man as if she were angry, and making the cooing and the weeping sounds.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “abuse” mean?

Improper treatment or usage; application to a wrong or bad purpose; an unjust, corrupt or wrongful practice or custom.

Is “abuse” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.