| Main Entry: | abuse |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | attack with words |
Synonyms: |
backbite, bad-mouth, bash, belittle, berate, blow off, calumniate, cap, castigate, cuss out, cut down, cut to the quick, decry, defame, derogate, discount, do a number on, dump on, give a black eye, hurl brickbat, insult, knock*, minimize, nag, offend, oppress, persecute, pick on, put down*, rag on, reproach, revile, ride*, rip up, run down, scold, signify, slam*, slap, sling mud, smear, sound*, swear at, tear apart, trash*, upbraid, vilify, vituperate, zing |
| Notes: | abuse carries with it some sense of harm; misuse refers to an incorrect use that may not lead to harm to misuse is to use something wrongly, to abuse is to misuse something so badly that you damage it |
Antonyms: |
acclaim, adulate, approve, commend, compliment, praise |
| Main Entry: | denigrate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | belittle, malign |
Synonyms: |
asperse, bad mouth, besmirch, blacken, blister, calumniate, decry, defame, dis, disparage, give black eye, impugn, knock*, libel, mudsling, put down*, revile, rip up, roast, run down, scandalize, slander, tear down, traduce, vilify |
Antonyms: |
boost, cherish, compliment, praise |
| Main Entry: | smear |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | tarnish a reputation |
Synonyms: |
asperse, bad-mouth, befoul, besmirch, blacken, blackguard, blister, calumniate, defame, defile, denigrate, discolor, drag through mud, give a black eye, hit*, libel, malign, pan, poor-mouth, rap, rip up, scorch*, slam*, slander, sling mud, slur, sully, taint, traduce, vilify |
Antonyms: |
honor, laud, upgrade |
| Main Entry: | vilify |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | criticize very harshly |
Synonyms: |
abuse, asperse, assail, attack, bad-mouth, berate, blister, call down, caluminate, censure, curse, cuss, damn, debase, decry, defame, denigrate, denounce, dig*, disparage, dress down, dump on, give a black eye, jinx, knock*, libel, malign, mistreat, mudsling, pan, put a whammy on, put down*, rag on, rap, revile, rip up, roast, run down, scorch, skin alive, slam*, slander, slur, smear, speak ill of, tear down, tear into, traduce, vituperate, voodoo |
Antonyms: |
compliment, praise |