abusive power

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "abusive power" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone is using their authority or influence in a harmful or oppressive manner. Example: "The manager's abusive power over his employees created a toxic work environment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

But it was also seeped in unexpressed desire and rage against abusive power.

Independent

The Bill of Rights was adopted to protect Americans from the abusive power of their government.

The New York Times

"This is the landmark case that's going to stop the abusive power of co-op boards".

The New York Times

"There are many people learning this method and learning how to expose abusive power in creative ways".

The New York Times

Few Zimbabweans, other than the handful whose abusive power fed off Mugabe's, will mourn his eventual exit.

The New Yorker

Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, the House minority leader, responded by accusing Republicans of engaging in "a shameful display of abusive power" in pushing the issue.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

Since Vladimir Putin's third presidential term started in May 2012, the authorities acquired broad and often abusive powers to restrict freedom of assembly and association.

Stanford University

TEK operates in secret with extraordinary powers and no one reliably independent of the current governing party can review what it is doing when it uses its most potentially abusive powers.

The New York Times

Donald Trump has been calling people names for the past year and a half, while campaigning, but name-calling, religiously speaking, should be reserved as a tool for use by people who are last (and who stand with 'the last') as they rail against abusive powers (see the Prophets of Hebrew Scriptures).

Huffington Post

Since the subject was the abuse of mass surveillance and Ecuador is not known to be an abusive surveillance power, Mr. Assange said Ecuador's was 'not significant' in this context and the conversation should return to topic".

Huffington Post

"That's almost abusive of power," he told me.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about "abusive power", provide specific examples to illustrate the abuse. Vague assertions are less impactful than concrete instances of misused authority or control.

Common error

Be careful not to use "abusive power" interchangeably with "abusive authority". Power refers to the ability to influence, while authority is the legitimate right to do so. "Abusive power" highlights the misuse of influence, even without formal authority.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "abusive power" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "abusive" modifies the noun "power". It describes the nature of the power being exercised. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

28%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "abusive power" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that describes the misuse of authority or influence in a harmful or oppressive manner. Ludwig AI confirms this, also providing suitable alternatives such as "tyrannical authority" or "oppressive control". The phrase is commonly found in news media and academic contexts, indicating its wide applicability and neutral register. When using "abusive power", it is important to provide specific examples and to distinguish it from related concepts such as "abusive authority" or "corrupt influence".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unjust authority

Highlights the unfair or inequitable nature of the authority.

oppressive control

Highlights the suppressive aspect of the control being exerted.

authoritarian control

Highlights the strict and unquestioning obedience demanded.

tyrannical authority

Focuses on the oppressive nature of the authority.

illegitimate control

Stresses the lack of legal or moral basis for the control.

despotic rule

Indicates a harsh and autocratic form of governance.

arbitrary rule

Suggests decisions based on whim rather than reason or law.

exploitative dominance

Emphasizes the unfair advantage taken through dominance.

corrupt influence

Focuses on the decay or moral compromise associated with the influence.

coercive force

Emphasizes the use of compulsion or threats.

FAQs

How can I use "abusive power" in a sentence?

You can use "abusive power" to describe situations where authority or influence is used in a harmful, oppressive, or unfair way. For example: "The dictator's regime was characterized by the "abusive power" of the military." or "The company was accused of "abusive power" against its smaller competitors."

What are some alternatives to "abusive power"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "tyrannical authority", "oppressive control", or "exploitative dominance".

What is the difference between "abusive power" and "corrupt influence"?

"Abusive power" generally implies the misuse of existing authority or control, while "corrupt influence" suggests that power is being used in a way that is morally wrong or dishonest, often for personal gain.

Is "abusive power" a formal or informal term?

"Abusive power" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, depending on the specific situation and audience. However, it's generally considered a neutral term suitable for news reports, academic papers, and everyday conversation.