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# abusive

adjective (abusive)

«abusive» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Using rude, insulting or cruel words: «abusive language». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/abusive/#m1)
2. Treating someone cruelly or violently, hurting them again and again: «an abusive relationship». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/abusive/#m2)
3. Using something wrongly or unfairly, especially power. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/abusive/#m3)

### In the lessons

In safety and PSHE lessons «abusive» describes behaviour that is never okay: being hit, threatened, insulted or hurt by anyone, including adults or people online. If someone is abusive to you, tell a trusted adult. Online, abusive messages can be reported and blocked. Phrases: «abusive language», «abusive messages», «abusive behaviour».

### Examples

- Abusive messages should be reported and blocked. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/abusive/#x1)
- The referee sent off the player for abusive language. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/abusive/#x2)
- No one deserves to be in an abusive home. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/abusive/#x3)
- If an adult is abusive to you, tell a teacher you trust. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/abusive/#x4)
- The website removes abusive comments. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/abusive/#x5)
- The shop sign said staff will not accept abusive behaviour. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/abusive/#x6)
- Turning upon him, in her anger and disappointment she called the poor man all the abusive names that she could think of. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/abusive/#x7)

### Note

From the noun and verb «abuse». Strong word: it is more serious than «mean» or «rude». Spelling: abusive (drop the e of «abuse», add -ive). Say «uh-BYOO-siv». Abuse is never the fault of the child who is hurt.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «abusive» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/abusive/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«abusive» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/abusive.html) on Mova free.