collocations.org

Collocations for abuse - noun

1. wrong/bad use of sth

ADJECTIVE

alcohol, drug, solvent, substance (= drugs, etc.)
systematic, widespread
flagrant

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VERB + abuse

prevent, stop
investigate, report
be open to
The legal system is open to abuse.

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PREPOSITION

abuse of
abuse of prisoners

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PHRASES

the abuse of power

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2. bad, usually violent treatment of sb

ADJECTIVE

emotional, physical, psychological, sex, sexual
child, elder (esp. AmE), prisoner, spousal (esp. AmE)
victims of child abuse
human rights abuses
allegations of human rights abuses
alleged, suspected

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… OF ABUSE

case
six cases of suspected child abuse

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VERB + abuse

commit
subject sb to
She was subjected to regular sexual abuse.
experience, suffer, take
The child had taken a lot of emotional abuse.
allege, suspect sb of

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abuse + VERB

happen, occur, take place

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abuse + NOUN

victim

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PHRASES

an allegation of abuse
allegations of child abuse
a perpetrator of abuse
a victim of abuse

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3. insulting words

ADJECTIVE

verbal
personal, racial (esp. BrE), racist

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… OF ABUSE

stream, torrent
He was subjected to a torrent of personal abuse.

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VERB + abuse

hurl, scream, shout, shower sb with, subject sb to
endure
They had to endure continual racist abuse.

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PHRASES

heap abuse on sb/sth
Abuse and scorn were heaped on the proposals.
a target for abuse, a target of abuse
The team who lost became a target of abuse for angry fans.
a term of abuse
Calling someone stupid is definitely a term of abuse.

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Collocations for abuse - verb

ADVERB

emotionally, mentally, physically, sexually, verbally
All the children had been physically and emotionally abused.
badly, severely

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Abuse is used with these nouns as the object:
alcohol, authority, child, cocaine, hospitality, power, privilege, substance, trust, woman

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