To use something or someone in a wrong, harmful, or unfair way; or to treat someone with cruelty or violence.
From Old French *abuser*, from Latin *abuti* meaning “to use up, misuse,” from *ab-* “away” and *uti* “to use.” It originally focused on using something badly or excessively.
Abuse isn’t just about anger; it’s about power being used in the wrong way—whether over a person, a substance, or a privilege. The word’s root reminds us that misuse, even without shouting or hitting, can still be deeply damaging.
The term 'abuse' is widely used in contexts of domestic, sexual, and workplace violence, where women and gender minorities have historically been disproportionately targeted and disbelieved. Legal and institutional language often minimized such abuse or framed it in gendered ways (e.g., 'wife-beating' as a private matter).
Use precise modifiers (e.g., 'emotional abuse', 'online harassment') and avoid language that blames victims or stereotypes any gender as inherently abusive. Center the experiences and agency of survivors without assuming their gender.
["mistreatment","harm","harassment","violence"]
When discussing abuse, acknowledge the work of feminist and survivor-led movements that exposed patterns of domestic and sexual violence, pushed for legal reforms, and expanded the definition of abuse beyond physical harm.
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