How to say "abuse" in Japanese

• 虐待ぎゃくたいCommon
  suru verb, transitive verb, no-adjectiveAbuse in the sense of cruel ill-treatment — the word for mistreating a child, a spouse or an animal. It denotes harmful mistreatment of people or animals rather than misuse of things.
  彼かれは幼児ようじ虐待ぎゃくたいで罰ばっせられた。↗

  He was punished for child abuse.
• 悪用あくようCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbAbuse or misuse of things rather than people: putting power, authority, information or a system to a wrong or perverse purpose. Not the word for mistreating a person.
  彼かれは公金こうきんを悪用あくようしたかどで逮捕たいほされた。↗

  He was arrested for abusing public funds.
• 乱用らんようJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbAbuse or misuse with a nuance of excess: using something beyond proper limits, as with drugs or alcohol; it can also mean misappropriation.
  彼かれは特権とっけんを乱用らんようしたに違ちがいない。↗

  He must have abused the privilege.
• 罵るののしるJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbA verb: to abuse someone verbally — to curse at them or shout abuse. Choose it when 'abuse' means insulting language hurled at a person, not mistreatment or misuse of something.
  彼女かのじょはさんざん私の事ことをののしった。↗

  She called me many terrible things.
• 誹謗ひぼうCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbAs a rendering of 'abuse' this is marginal: it really means slander — abusive speech that attacks someone's reputation — not shouting at a person or mistreating them.
  ※基本的きほんてきな禁止事項きんしじこう（誹謗ひぼう・中傷ちゅうしょうの禁止きんし等とう）は「はじめにお読よみ下ください」に記載きさいしてあります。必かならずお読よみください。↗

  * The basic prohibitions (No slander, libel, etc.) are noted in the "Read me first." Please be sure to read it.

Use 虐待 for mistreating people or animals, 悪用 and 乱用 for misuse of power, drugs or the like (乱用 stressing excess), 「罵る」 for hurling verbal abuse, and 誹謗 for slanderous attacks.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 虐待ぎゃくたいabuse
• 悪用あくようabuse
• 乱用らんようabuse
• 罵るののしるto abuse (verbally)
• 誹謗ひぼうslander
• 酷使こくしexploitation
• 誤用ごようmisuse
• 弊害へいがいharmful effect
• 悪弊あくへいcorrupt practice
• 罵りののしりabuse
• アビューズabuse
• 悪たれ口あくたれぐちabuse
• 痛罵つうばabuse
• 面罵罵倒めんばばとうabuse
• ほしいままにするto abuse
• 逆用ぎゃくようusing in a way contrary to its intended purpose
• 妄用ぼうようmisuse
• 冷罵れいばsneer
• 無にするむにするto bring to naught
• 虐遇ぎゃくぐうill-treatment
• こき下ろすこきおろすto denounce
• 誹謗中傷ひぼうちゅうしょうslander
• 誤使用ごしようimproper use
• 悪口わるぐち(verbal) abuse
• 悪口あっこう(verbal) abuse
• 罵倒ばとう(verbal) abuse
• 罵詈ばり(verbal) abuse
• 罵言ばげん(verbal) abuse
• 嘲罵ちょうば(verbal) abuse
• 振り回すふりまわすto abuse (one's power)