a grave abuse

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a grave abuse" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a serious or severe misuse of power, rights, or privileges in various contexts, such as legal, political, or ethical discussions. Example: "The committee found that there was a grave abuse of authority in the decision-making process."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

That was a grave abuse, which undermined American democracy.

The New York Times

Nadir, who now runs a media firm in the Turkish-controlled territory, will argue that there was a grave abuse of process in the case brought against him by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO).

The Guardian - Business

The Supreme Court let the execution proceed on the grounds that all appeals had been exhausted, calling the effort by Judge Fletcher and her colleagues to reopen the matter "a grave abuse of discretion".

The New York Times

The company's current chairman, Pat Molloy, said the board was "astonished" at the findings, condemned the tax-dodging and said Mr. Traynor had committed "a grave abuse of trust".

The New York Times

"Mr Stalker could not possibly have known that they possessed the very evidence he was seeking and to have frustrated his efforts in this way is nothing less than a grave abuse of their unique position".

The Guardian

This is exactly the kind of investigation that requires the F.B.I. director to have independence; Trump's short-circuiting of the probe, with Comey's dismissal, is a grave abuse of Presidential power.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Don't try to B.S. the country into thinking it's some grave abuse of power.

Forbes

The UN Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism ― or MRM ― is also built around accountability and a commitment to end grave abuses of children's rights.

Unicef

The news made me think of people I'd met in Afghanistan and Iraq while reporting a New Yorker story on grave abuses against third-world logistics workers on U.S. military bases in both war zones.

The New Yorker

Those grave abuses are an indelible part of our human rights legacy, even if they primarily occurred at Guantánamo and other overseas sites.

The New York Times

The group's Middle East and North Africa director, Philip Luther, said: "It is absolutely appalling that, while Israeli forces were inflicting massive death and destruction upon the people in Gaza, Hamas forces took the opportunity to ruthlessly settle scores, carrying out a series of unlawful killings and other grave abuses.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a grave abuse" when you want to emphasize the severity and seriousness of a misuse of power, trust, or rights. It adds weight and solemnity to your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "a grave abuse" in everyday conversations or informal writing. The phrase is formal and carries significant weight, making it inappropriate for trivial matters.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a grave abuse" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a situation involving a serious and significant misuse of power, trust, or rights. Ludwig confirms this usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Formal & Business

13%

Science

24%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a grave abuse" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe a serious misuse of power or violation of rights. Ludwig confirms its proper usage and grammatical correctness. While not extremely common, it appears most frequently in news and media, as well as formal business contexts. This expression is fitting for formal and neutral registers, emphasizing the significance of the impropriety. Alternatives like "a serious abuse" or "a flagrant abuse" can be used to convey similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a serious abuse

Replaces "grave" with "serious", indicating a less intense but still significant level of severity.

a severe abuse

Substitutes "grave" with "severe", maintaining the high level of seriousness.

a flagrant abuse

Emphasizes the obvious and scandalous nature of the abuse.

a gross abuse

Highlights the extreme and unacceptable nature of the abuse.

a significant abuse

Highlights the notable and considerable nature of the abuse.

a major abuse

Emphasizes the substantial impact and scope of the abuse.

a terrible abuse

Emphasizes the negative impact of the abuse.

a critical abuse

Focuses on the importance and far-reaching consequences of the abuse.

an egregious abuse

Highlights the shocking and outrageous nature of the abuse.

a profound abuse

Emphasizes the depth and far-reaching implications of the abuse.

FAQs

How can I use "a grave abuse" in a sentence?

You can use "a grave abuse" to describe a serious misuse of power or violation of rights. For example, "The investigation revealed "a grave abuse" of authority within the department".

What are some alternatives to "a grave abuse"?

Alternatives include "a serious abuse", "a flagrant abuse", or "a gross abuse", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "a grave abuse of power"?

Yes, "a grave abuse of power" is a correct and commonly used phrase to describe a serious misuse of authority.

What is the difference between "a grave abuse" and "a minor abuse"?

"A grave abuse" refers to a serious and significant misuse or violation, while "a minor abuse" indicates a less severe and less consequential misuse. The adjective emphasizes the magnitude of the impropriety.