abusive
adjective
abu·sive
ə-ˈbyü-siv 
also -ziv
1
a
: using harsh, insulting language
an angry and abusive crowd
b
: harsh and insulting
abusive language
c
: using or involving physical violence or emotional cruelty
abusive behavior
an abusive husband
an abusive relationship
2
: characterized by wrong or improper use or action
abusively
adverb
abusiveness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of abusive in a Sentence
The fans yelled abusive comments to the referee.
protecting wives from abusive husbands
Recent Examples on the Web
Their lives were irrevocably upended in 1986 when their abusive, alcoholic father fatally shot his wife and turned the gun on himself.
—
Ilana Kaplan, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2024
In the film Lively stars as florist Lily Bloom, a woman navigating an abusive relationship with handsome neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid (Baldoni).
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 16 Aug. 2024
The story centers on Lily (Lively), a woman who overcomes a traumatic childhood with an abusive father to begin a new life in Boston.
—Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 16 Aug. 2024
In the film, Lively plays a woman named Lily Bloom, who gets tangled in an abusive relationship before making the decision to leave.
—Benjamin Vanhoose, Peoplemag, 13 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for abusive 
Ilana Kaplan, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2024
In the film Lively stars as florist Lily Bloom, a woman navigating an abusive relationship with handsome neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid (Baldoni).
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 16 Aug. 2024
The story centers on Lily (Lively), a woman who overcomes a traumatic childhood with an abusive father to begin a new life in Boston.
—Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 16 Aug. 2024
In the film, Lively plays a woman named Lily Bloom, who gets tangled in an abusive relationship before making the decision to leave.
—Benjamin Vanhoose, Peoplemag, 13 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for abusive
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'abusive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near abusive
Cite this Entry
“Abusive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abusive. Accessed 12 Sep. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
abusive
adjective
abu·sive
ə-ˈbyü-siv
-ziv
: using or characterized by abuse
abusively
adverb
abusiveness
noun
Legal Definition
abusive
adjective
abu·sive
ə-ˈbyü-siv, -ziv
1
: characterized by wrong or improper use or action
abusive tax shelters
2
: inflicting verbal or physical abuse
abusive parents
abusively
adverb
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