adjective

abusive

uh-BYOO-siv/əˈbjuːsɪv/

Involving harmful treatment or misuse.

The supervisor's abusive behavior makes the employee pull away anxiously.

A supervisor leans forward with a harsh angry expression and jabs a pointing finger at an employee who withdraws anxiously; abusive conduct clearly unjust, no speech text or identity-based insults.

Etymology

abLatinoff, away

+usLatinuse, consume

+iveLatinadjective-forming ending

The prefix and root underlie “use up” and “misuse”; the adjective originally meant “misapplied” or “improper.” Its later sense, “full of abuse,” describes harmful treatment or insulting speech.

In context

BetterHelp1:30

mind games are a really common tool of people who are emotionally abusive basically what they will do is try to make you deny your own reality

6 Signs Of An Emotionally Abusive Relationship You Shouldnt Ignore | BetterHelp

More examples

The referee refuses to tolerate abusive language from fans.
The audit uncovered abusive billing practices.
She left an abusive relationship and found a safe home.

Forms

abusive

abuse noun — Cruel or harmful treatment of someone

abusively adverb — In a cruel or harmful way

Similar words

cruel: Emphasizes causing suffering or showing indifference to someone's pain.
violent: Emphasizes physical force, while abusive also includes verbal mistreatment.
insulting: Focuses on offending or humiliating someone rather than physical harm.