| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | strong criticism; dishonor |
| Synonyms: | abuse, admonishment, admonition, blame, blemish, censure, chiding, condemnation, contempt, disapproval, discredit, disgrace, disrepute, ignominy, indignity, obloquy, odium, opprobrium, rap, rebuke, reprehension, reprimand, reproof, scorn, shame, slight, slur, stain, stigma |
| Antonyms: | approval, honor, praise, respect |
| Main Entry: | abuse |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | verbal attack |
| Synonyms: | bad-mouthing, blame, castigation, censure, curse, curses, defamation, derision, hosing, insults, invective, kicking around, knifing, libel, obloquy, opprobrium, pushing around, put-down, quinine, reproach, revilement, scolding, signifying, slander, swearing, tirade, upbraiding, vilification, vituperation |
| 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: | acclamation, adulation, approval, commendation, plaudit, praise |
| 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: | admonition |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | scolding |
| Synonyms: | berating, dressing down, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, reproval, talking to, upbraiding |
| Main Entry: | berate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | criticize hatefully |
| Synonyms: | bawl out, blister, call down, castigate, censure, chew out, chew*, chide, cuss out, eat out, give one hell, give what for, jaw, jump all over, rail at, rake over the coals, rate, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, reprove, revile, scold, scorch, tell off, tongue-lash, upbraid, vituperate |
| Antonyms: | compliment, hail, praise |
| Main Entry: | blame |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | condemnation |
| Synonyms: | accusation, animadversion, arraignment, attack, attribution, castigation, censure, charge, chiding, complaint, criticism, denunciation, depreciation, diatribe, disapprobation, disapproval, disfavor, disparagement, expostulation, exprobation, impeachment, implication, imputation, incrimination, inculpation, indictment, invective, objurgation, obloquy, opposition, rebuke, recrimination, remonstrance, reprehension, reprimand, reproach, reprobation, reproof, repudiation, slur, tirade |
| Antonyms: | applause, commendation, exaltation, exculpation, exoneration, praise, thanks |
| Main Entry: | blame |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | accuse; place responsibility |
| Synonyms: | admonish, ascribe, attribute, blast, blow the whistle on, censure, charge, chide, climb all over, condemn, criticize, denounce, denunciate, disapprove, express disapprobation, find fault with, finger*, frame, hold responsible, impute, indict, jump all over, jump down one's throat, knock*, lay a bad trip on, lay at one's door, lay to, let one have it, lower the boom, pass the buck, point the finger, rap, rebuke, reprehend, reproach, reprove, roast, saddle, skin*, stick it to, tax, upbraid |
| Antonyms: | applaud, commend, exalt, exculpate, exonerate, praise, thank |
| Main Entry: | brand |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | stigma |
| Synonyms: | bar sinister, black eye, blot, blur, disgrace, infamy, mark, mark of Cain, odium, onus, reproach, slur, smirch, spot, stain, stigma, taint |
| Main Entry: | carp |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | nag |
| Synonyms: | bother, cavil, censure, complain, criticize, find fault, fuss, grumble, hypercriticize, knock, nitpick, objurgate, pan, peck, pick at, quibble, reproach |
| Antonyms: | ignore, let go |