abusive
adjective
- mistreat a person or animal, often repeatedly, with violence or with cruelty
- use (something) to bad effect or for a bad purpose; misuse
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /əˈbjuː.sɪv/ / /əˈbju.sɪv/ / /əˈbju.zɪv/
adj
Etymology: First attested in the 1530s. From French abusif, from Latin abūsīvus, from abusus + -ivus (“-ive”). Equivalent to abuse + -ive.
- Prone to treat someone badly by coarse, insulting words or other maltreatment; vituperative; reproachful; scurrilous.
“All they could ever do was to shout abusive inanities at me.”
“"Zero Tolerance. Aggressive and abusive behavior will not be tolerated. Our team are here to help, not hurt," the signs read.”
- Tending to deceive; fraudulent.
“an abusive treaty”
- Tending to misuse; practising or containing abuse.
“[…] to begin in this vacation the foundation of a trifling subject which might shroud in his leaves the abusive enormities of these our times.”
“the abusive prerogatives of his see”
- Being physically or emotionally injurious; characterized by repeated violence or other abuse.
- Wrongly used; perverted; misapplied; unjust; illegal.
“I am […]necessitated to use the word Parliament improperly, according to the abusive acceptation thereof.”
- Catachrestic.