abusive
/əˈbjuː.sɪv/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
Prone to treat someone badly by coarse, insulting words or other maltreatment; vituperative; reproachful; scurrilous.
Adjective
Examples
All they could ever do was to shout abusive inanities at me.
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
Meaning · English
Being physically or emotionally injurious; characterized by repeated violence or other abuse.
Adjective
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “abusive” mean?
Prone to treat someone badly by coarse, insulting words or other maltreatment; vituperative; reproachful; scurrilous.
Is “abusive” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.