abusive

views updated May 18 2018

a·bu·sive / əˈbyoōsiv; -ziv/ • adj. 1. extremely offensive and insulting: abusive language.2. engaging in or characterized by habitual violence and cruelty.3. involving injustice or illegality: an abusive manipulation of the system.DERIVATIVES: a·bu·sive·ly adv.a·bu·sive·ness n.

Abusive

views updated May 29 2018

ABUSIVE

Tending to deceive; practicing abuse; prone to ill-treat by coarse, insulting words or harmful acts. Using ill treatment; injurious, improper, hurtful, offensive, reproachful.

Using abusive language, even though offensive, is not criminal unless it amounts to fighting words that, by their very utterance, tend to incite an immediate breach of the peace.

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