flagrant abuse

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "flagrant abuse" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a blatant or obvious misuse of power, rights, or privileges, often in a legal or ethical context. Example: "The report highlighted the flagrant abuse of authority by the officials, leading to widespread public outrage."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

Flagrant abuse of the Earth's natural resources.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"This was a flagrant abuse of power," she said.

The Guardian

The commission's assignment is to see whether this payment constitutes a flagrant abuse of public trust.

The New York Times

Bellows Bazza: "This flagrant abuse of the rules was rehearsed and staged to gain attention".

Independent

I received far more acceptance, or at least disinterested tolerance, than I ever did flagrant abuse.

Independent

Thanks are due Clyde Haberman for revealing the flagrant abuse of cellphones by taxi drivers.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

The most flagrant abuses appear to have stopped.

The Economist

The Securities Industry Association's new "best practices" guidelines seek to curb some of the most flagrant abuses.

The New York Times

Gosper stressed that "flagrant abuses of the spirit of the law" would not be permitted.

The Guardian - Sport

The federation duly pounced on the document's more contentious clauses, and alleged "flagrant abuses" of workers' rights.

The Economist

In some countries, such as the United States and Great Britain, anti-trust or monopoly laws act to restrain the more flagrant abuses of industrial power.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "flagrant abuse", consider the context. Ensure that the situation warrants such strong language; otherwise, it might come across as hyperbolic.

Common error

Avoid using "flagrant abuse" in contexts that are merely negligent or unintentional. The term implies a deliberate and egregious violation, so reserve it for situations where the intent is clear.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "flagrant abuse" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a specific instance or pattern of misuse, as illustrated in Ludwig's examples concerning political power and human rights.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

12%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "flagrant abuse" is a commonly used phrase, as indicated by Ludwig AI, which correctly denotes a blatant and obvious misuse. Grammatically sound and appearing frequently in contexts such as news, formal business, and scientific publications, it serves to criticize or condemn particularly egregious violations. While direct synonyms like "brazen abuse" or "egregious misuse" exist, it’s crucial to use the phrase judiciously, reserving it for situations where the misuse is both evident and morally reprehensible to avoid exaggeration. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is well-established in English and suitable for a range of applications, particularly in contexts demanding a critical evaluation of misconduct.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

brazen abuse

Replaces "flagrant" with "brazen", emphasizing boldness and lack of shame in the abuse.

egregious misuse

Substitutes "abuse" with "misuse" and "flagrant" with "egregious", indicating an outstandingly bad or shocking misuse.

gross violation

Replaces "abuse" with "violation", highlighting the act of breaking a rule or law; "gross" emphasizes the severity.

outrageous exploitation

Changes "abuse" to "exploitation", focusing on the unfair use of someone or something, and "flagrant" to "outrageous", stressing the shocking nature.

blatant disregard

Shifts the focus to a clear lack of respect or attention, rather than direct abuse, while maintaining a similar level of severity.

unconscionable mistreatment

Replaces "abuse" with "mistreatment" and "flagrant" with "unconscionable", emphasizing the moral reprehensibility of the actions.

shameless exploitation

Replaces "flagrant" with "shameless", highlighting the lack of any attempt to conceal the abusive behavior.

deliberate transgression

Focuses on a conscious and intentional act of wrongdoing, rather than just abuse, carrying a slightly more formal tone.

open violation

Substitutes "flagrant" with "open", meaning not secret or concealed. Emphasizes the public nature of the violation.

manifest corruption

Replaces "abuse" with "corruption", focusing on dishonesty or fraudulent conduct, while maintaining a similar level of visibility.

FAQs

What does "flagrant abuse" mean?

The term "flagrant abuse" refers to a blatant and shocking misuse or violation of something, such as power, trust, or rights. It suggests the action is not only wrong but also openly and obviously so.

What are some synonyms for "flagrant abuse"?

Some alternatives to "flagrant abuse" include "brazen abuse", "egregious misuse", and "gross violation". The best choice depends on the specific context.

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

You can use "flagrant abuse" to describe situations where there's a clear and outrageous misuse. For example: "The politician's actions were a flagrant abuse of power." or "The company engaged in flagrant abuse of environmental regulations."

What is the difference between "flagrant abuse" and "misuse"?

"Misuse" generally refers to using something incorrectly or inappropriately. "Flagrant abuse" implies a more severe and intentional violation, suggesting a shocking disregard for rules or ethical standards. It's not simply a mistake, but a deliberate act of wrongdoing.