The difference between Abuse and Malign
When used as verbs, abuse means to put to a wrong use, whereas malign means to make defamatory statements about.
Abuse is also noun with the meaning: improper treatment or usage.
Malign is also adjective with the meaning: evil or malignant in disposition, nature, intent or influence.
check bellow for the other definitions of Abuse and Malign
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Abuse as a noun:
Improper treatment or usage; application to a wrong or bad purpose; an unjust, corrupt or wrongful practice or custom.
Examples:
"All abuse, whether physical, verbal, psychological or sexual, is bad."
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Abuse as a noun:
Misuse; improper use; perversion.
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Abuse as a noun (obsolete):
A delusion; an imposture; misrepresentation; deception.
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Abuse as a noun (dated, _, outside of, _, Africa):
Coarse, insulting speech; abusive language; language that unjustly or angrily vilifies.
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Abuse as a noun (now, rare):
Catachresis.
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Abuse as a noun:
Physical maltreatment; injury; cruel treatment.
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Abuse as a noun:
Violation; defilement; rape; forcing of undesired sexual activity by one person on another, often on a repeated basis.
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Abuse as a verb (transitive):
To put to a wrong use; to misapply; to use improperly; to misuse; to use for a wrong purpose or end; to pervert
Examples:
"He abused his authority."
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Abuse as a verb (transitive):
To injure; to maltreat; to hurt; to treat with cruelty, especially repeatedly.
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Abuse as a verb (transitive, dated, _, outside of, _, Africa):
To attack with coarse language; to insult; to revile; malign; to speak in an offensive manner to or about someone; to disparage.
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Abuse as a verb (transitive):
To imbibe a drug for a purpose other than it was intended; to intentionally take more of a drug than was prescribed for recreational reasons; to take illegal drugs habitually.
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Abuse as a verb (transitive, archaic):
To violate; defile; to rape.
Examples:
"rfquotek Spenser"
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Abuse as a verb (transitive, obsolete):
Misrepresent; adulterate.
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Abuse as a verb (transitive, obsolete):
To deceive; to trick; to impose on; misuse the confidence of.
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Abuse as a verb (transitive, obsolete, Scotland):
Disuse.
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Malign as an adjective:
evil or malignant in disposition, nature, intent or influence.
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Malign as an adjective:
malevolent.
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Malign as an adjective (oncology):
malignant
Examples:
"a malign ulcer"
"rfquotek Francis Bacon"
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Malign as a verb (transitive):
To make defamatory statements about; to slander or traduce.
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Malign as a verb (transitive, archaic):
To treat with malice; to show hatred toward; to abuse; to wrong.