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Abuse most commonly refers to the use or treatment of something or someone (a person, item, substance, concept, idea or vocabulary) that is harmful, or the lack of proper care of these (neglect). It includes:

Contents 1 By victim type 2 By style 3 Other forms 4 See also

[edit] By victim type

• Child abuse, physical, emotional or sexual abuse directed at a child
• Elder abuse, physical or psychological threats or neglect, directed at the elderly, particularly those unable to care for themselves
• Spousal abuse (better known as "domestic violence"), mistreatment of one's domestic partner.
• Self-abuse, self-destructive behavior
• Peer abuse, abusive behavior toward one's classmates in a school environment
• Employee abuse, harassing, threatening, or bullying others in a work environment
• Animal abuse, cruelty directed at animals

[edit] By style

• Psychological abuse, emotional or psychological coercion used to compel another to do something they do not want to do
• Physical abuse, infliction of pain or use of violence against another
• Sexual abuse, improper use of another person for sexual purposes, either against their will or under physical or psychological pressure
  • Child sexual abuse, such abuse of a minor
• Spiritual abuse, use of religious beliefs to intimidate, coerce, or control another
• Verbal abuse, use of profanity, demeaning talk, or threatening statements to degrade another

[edit] Other forms

• Substance abuse, including:
  • Drug abuse, the misuse of illicit or prescription drugs
  • Alcohol abuse, the overuse of alcoholic beverages
  • Addiction
• Human rights abuse, violation of human rights
• Legal abuse, retaliation, coercion, or emotionally/financially harming a person
  • Vexatious litigation
  • malicious prosecution
• Internet abuse, inappropriate online behavior

[edit] See also

• Abuse (computer game), a computer game
• Abus, various meanings including a make of padlock

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