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- pronunciation:
byu
sihv
- features:
- Word Parts
| part of speech: |
adjective |
| definition 1: |
characterized by offensive or unfair language.
The broadcasters censored the abusive comments of the show's guests.I think it's wrong that he never defends himself when she is abusive toward him.- synonyms:
- affronting, contumelious, insulting, offensive
- antonyms:
- complimentary, respectful
- similar words:
- beastly, derogatory, foul, foulmouthed, injurious, insufferable, intolerable, invective, nasty, rough, unbearable
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| definition 2: |
characterized by injurious or offensive treatment.
She left behind her abusive marriage.The family court determined that she had been abusive in her treatment of her children.- synonyms:
- harmful
- antonyms:
- respectful
- similar words:
- harsh, injurious, rough, torturous
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| definition 3: |
improperly or dishonestly used.
It's an abusive practice that promotes discrimination.- synonyms:
- corrupt, malfeasant
- antonyms:
- proper
- similar words:
- crooked, improper, undue, venal
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| definition 4: |
inclined to treat others with cruelty or disrespect.
She claimed that her mother had been abusive and had caused her mental and physical harm.- antonyms:
- gentle, respectful, tender
- similar words:
- brutal, cruel, oppressive
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| related words: |
brutal, brute, outrageous |
| derivations: |
abusively (adv.), abusiveness (n.) |
The word abusive
contains the following parts:
ab-, abs-
Latin
prefix
that means from, away from
  More about this word part:
Most words containing the prefix ab-
, abs-
are Latin loanwords, so the bases are Latin roots. ab-
becomes abs-
before bases beginning with "t," such as "tract."
Example words:
abbreviate, abbreviation, abdicate, abduct, abnormal, abolish, aborigine, abrasive, abrupt, absence, absent, absolute, absorb, abstain, abstract, abuse
us, ut, util
Latin
root
that means use
Example words:
-ive, -ative
Latin
adjective-forming suffix
that means tending to, connected with, or performing
More about this word part:
The suffix -ive
, -ative
turns Latinate verb bases into adjectives. Many adjectives ending in -ive
, -ative
have corresponding noun forms ending in -ity (objective
, objectivity) or -ion (effusive, effusion).
Example words:
abrasive, activate, active, actively, activist, affirmative, aggressive, alternative, attractive, captive, exclusive, expensive, fugitive, imperative, infinitive, interactive, native, objective, productive, protective, relative
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