Meaning & use
abused
Last updated
“abused” is a form of “abuse”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive
To have treated someone or something in a cruel, violent, or unfair way, especially repeatedly.
Grammar: Takes an object: 'He abused his position.' The base form is 'abuse'.
Patterns
- abuse someone
- abuse something
- abuse a position of power
The charity helps children who have been abused at home.
He was accused of abusing his authority to get special favors.
The report says the prisoners were abused by guards.
verbtransitive
To have used something in a wrong or harmful way, or too much.
Grammar: Often used with words like 'drugs', 'alcohol', or 'power'.
Patterns
- abuse drugs
- abuse alcohol
- abuse power
She abused prescription painkillers for years before getting help.
The manager abused his power by giving contracts to friends.
Some athletes abuse drugs to improve their performance.
adjectivebefore a noun
Having been treated badly, especially physically or emotionally.
Grammar: Used before a noun: 'abused children'. It describes the person or thing that received the abuse.
Patterns
- abused child
- abused animal
- abused woman
The shelter provides a safe place for abused animals.
She works as a counselor for abused women.
The abused child was taken into care by social services.
Word forms
| base form | abuse |
|---|---|
| third person singular | abuses |
| past tense | abused |
| past participle | abused |
| -ing form | abusing |
Common combinations
- physically abused
- The dog had been physically abused and was afraid of people.
- sexually abused
- The campaign aims to support adults who were sexually abused as children.
- verbally abused
- He was verbally abused by a customer and felt shaken.
- abused as a child
- Many people who were abused as a child struggle with trust later in life.
- abused by someone
- She was abused by her partner for several years before she left.
Synonyms and how they differ
- mistreated
- Similar but often less severe; it can refer to any unfair treatment, not necessarily violent or repeated.
- maltreated
- More formal and often used for people or animals in someone's care; it emphasizes neglect or cruelty.
- ill-treated
- A slightly old-fashioned British term; it means treated badly but does not always imply sexual or drug abuse.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: abused or amused?
abused vs amused
Amused means 'finding something funny', while abused means 'treated badly'. They sound similar but have very different meanings.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'abused' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option 0 correctly uses 'abused' to mean 'treated badly'. Option 1 confuses it with 'amused' (found funny). Option 2 uses it as if it meant 'played', and option 3 uses it to mean 'invited'—neither is correct.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “abused”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.