From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishabusivea‧bu‧sive /əˈbjuːsɪv/ adjective OFFENDusing cruel words or physical violence Smith denies using abusive language to the referee. He became abusive and his wife was injured in the struggle. —abusively adverb —abusiveness noun [uncountable]
Examples from the Corpus
abusive• After several unwarranted and unreasonably abusive attacks in the press, Riva Palacio resigned on August 10,1848.• Smith was fined £500 for making foul and abusive comments to match officials.• President Clinton grew up in an abusive home.• An arranged marriage of eighteen years came to an end when her abusive husband was murdered in a brawl.• Drunken football fans began directing a stream of abusive language at the policemen.• The matter of sexually abusive language in texts is in some senses a separate issue.• Vince used abusive language to her and other staff members.• The way pupils use sexually abusive language to insult each other presents particular problems for teachers.• She has been in an abusive marriage; he has been incarcerated for six years.• They called each other abusive names, which might have been alarming if I had not heard it all before.• The legal rights of children are emphasized, as are the prosecution and punishment of negligent or abusive parents.• Robin left home at 16 to get away from abusive parents.• Agency staffers want the Commission to seek a Federal court injunction barring Microsoft from what they consider abusive practices.• The woman became angry and abusive when she was not allowed into the hotel. 