as in insulting
marked by harsh insulting language
never one to believe that honorable people can disagree honorably, he invariably launches abusive attacks against anyone who dares to challenge him
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Recent Examples of abusive
As a recovering addict who has been sober for almost 11 years himself, Furnish noted that John’s upbringing in an abusive household, paired with his innate sensitivity and longing to find his place in the world, laid the foundation for his struggles with addiction.
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Max Gao, NBC News, 18 Nov. 2024
Gloria Williams, 38, has been accused of letting her abusive boyfriend, Brian Coulter, kill her son Kendrick Lee in 2020.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American-Statesman, 13 Nov. 2024
Vance’s father was largely out of the picture early, and his mother cycled through husbands, abusive episodes and rehab stints.
—Kyle Khan-Mullins, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
The role of Jane Chapman, the Monterey single mother and victim of rape by Kidman's character's abusive husband Perry Wright (Alexander Skarsgård), transformed Woodley from teen idol to serious actor.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for abusive 
Max Gao, NBC News, 18 Nov. 2024
Gloria Williams, 38, has been accused of letting her abusive boyfriend, Brian Coulter, kill her son Kendrick Lee in 2020.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American-Statesman, 13 Nov. 2024
Vance’s father was largely out of the picture early, and his mother cycled through husbands, abusive episodes and rehab stints.
—Kyle Khan-Mullins, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
The role of Jane Chapman, the Monterey single mother and victim of rape by Kidman's character's abusive husband Perry Wright (Alexander Skarsgård), transformed Woodley from teen idol to serious actor.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for abusive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abusive
Adjective
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Joe Biden denounced offensive jokes that podcast host Tony Hinchcliffe made about Puerto Rico during Donald Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally over the weekend, but the president also made a comment some prominent Republicans quickly called insulting to the former president's supporters.Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2024
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No matter, the response was swift and harsh from the often insulting and foul-mouthed Trump and other Republicans.Dominic Patten, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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The former frontman of Possum Dixon will be performing at the festival but is somehow not the most outrageous act on the bill.Jim Ruland, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2024
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For the man who has it all, here are my favorite outrageous holiday gifts, along with a few practical must-haves.Jim Dobson, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The planet continuing to tilt is because humans are pumping and moving an obscene amount of groundwater across the planet and redistributing it, according to the study's press release.Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 25 Nov. 2024
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The withdrawal of Matt Gaetz’ nomination to be Attorney General — the equivalent of an obscene gesture toward the Senate – suggests that some preservation instincts of co-exist along with doubts as to the strength of its backbone.Arthur House, Hartford Courant, 22 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The Lions lead the league in scoring (32.7 points per game) and are second in total offense behind an offensive line that is considered the best in the league.Jack Magruder, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
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Pause the conversation so the group can discuss the implicit meaning of the offensive word or phrase.Julie Garel, Baltimore Sun, 27 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Apple has since revoked the notarization for the malicious program.Michael Kan, PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024
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Between the lines: Many cybersecurity tools scan endpoints for signs of malicious intruders trying to get in.Sam Sabin, Axios, 29 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Trump’s vituperative persona, his enmity toward multilateralism, and his extreme policy agenda could easily sink the United States’ prospects for meaningful leadership of the G-20.Leslie Vinjamuri, Foreign Affairs, 15 Nov. 2024
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Unlike Rhoades, a vituperative colossus, however, Williams brings a steely determination and a Joe Friday, just-the-facts mien to his lawyering in the court of public opinion.Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 4 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Facts won’t deter Republicans on this point, however, for the same reason that Trump and his running mate, J. D. Vance, keep repeating their scurrilous lies about Haitian immigrants eating the pets of Ohio: white anxiety about a diversifying country has become one of the Party’s greatest assets.Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2024
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And Harriman was certainly subject to gossip, some of it scurrilous and sexist.Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 16 Sep. 2024
Adjective
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For those trying to come to terms with a particularly tumultuous election year full of deep divisions, ideological invective and personal insults, guidance can come from a historical figure whose insights into American politics still prove useful.Steven Watts, The Conversation, 23 Sep. 2024
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But a showdown between Biden and Trump in the 2020 election proved off-putting, with Trump refusing to stay quiet when his opponent talked and both candidates hurling invective at their opponent.Brian Steinberg, Variety, 1 Aug. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near abusive
Cite this Entry
“Abusive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abusive. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
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