Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

abusive

/əˈbju.sɪv/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.87 in modern English

Syllables: abu-sive
IPA: /əˈbju.sɪv/

12

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

3

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Prone to treat someone badly by coarse, insulting words or other maltreatment; vituperative; reproachful; scurrilous.

adj

Tending to deceive; fraudulent.

Obsolete

adj

Tending to misuse; practising or containing abuse.

Archaic

adj

Being physically or emotionally injurious; characterized by repeated violence or other abuse.

adj

Wrongly used; perverted; misapplied; unjust; illegal.

adj

Archaic

Example Sentences

"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."
"an abusive treaty"
"[…] 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"
"I am […]necessitated to use the word Parliament improperly, according to the abusive acceptation thereof."

Etymology

First attested in the 1530s. From French abusif, from Latin abūsīvus, from abusus + -ivus (“-ive”). Equivalent to abuse + -ive.

Origin

Source language: French

Word Breakdown

Root: abusif, abūsīvus
Suffix: abuse

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /əˈbju.sɪv/
British English: /əˈbjuː.sɪv/

Usage

Inflected Forms

more abusive (comparative) most abusive (superlative)

Derived Forms

abusively abusiveness abusivity

Synonyms

scurrilous reproachful opprobrious insolent insulting injurious offensive reviling berating vituperative

Antonyms

abuseless nonabusive unabusive

Rhymes With

exclusive inclusive elusive intrusive conclusive conducive inconclusive reclusive unobtrusive obtrusive illusive allusive

Questions

How do you pronounce abusive?: The recorded pronunciation is /əˈbju.sɪv/.
What does abusive mean?: Prone to treat someone badly by coarse, insulting words or other maltreatment; vituperative; reproachful; scurrilous.
Where does abusive come from?: It is traced to French.

How to pronounce abusive

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