flood of abuse

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "flood of abuse" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a large and overwhelming amount of negative or harmful comments directed at someone, often in the context of online interactions or social media. Example: "After the controversial post, she received a flood of abuse from users who disagreed with her opinion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

In the months that followed, a flood of abuse victims made contact.

The Guardian

Those norms ushered in a flood of abuse trials, many of which are still unresolved. 1 2 Next Page » Daniel J. Wakin contributed reporting.

The New York Times

Considering the flood of abuse you received, why would you decide to do something as high-profile as run for Congress?

The New York Times - Magazine

The flood of abuse directed at Sarkeesian began in 2012, when she announced a Kickstarter for her "Tropes vs. Women" video series.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

One returned to Britain not only to the sight of the actual floods, but also to the spectacle of shadow chancellor Ed Balls receiving floods of abuse from Conservative back- and front-benchers on the grounds that he is being proved wrong for having attacked the policy of austerity now that, at last, there has been a resumption of economic growth in this country.

The Guardian - Business

Nor was I particularly surprised when sixth formers from a nearby boy's school responded with a flood of misogynistic abuse on Twitter.

The Guardian

Because of my 35-year career as a sworn, gun-toting, member of the Los Angeles Police Department, I am often accosted by friends and acquaintances demanding explanations for the recent flood of police abuses across the country.

Huffington Post

Mr. Lucero's death has set loose a flood of stories of abuse and harassment.

The New York Times

The cardinal said he was concerned that a flood of lawsuits over abuse by priests could drain the church of money it is using for charitable purposes.

The New York Times

His channel broadcast the documentary that opened the door for the flood of Jimmy Savile sexual abuse allegations, 10 months after the BBC's Newsnight shelved a similar investigation.

The Guardian

And with the new commission prying loose a flood of unreported sexual abuse cases, the church faces the risk that trust will be damaged even further as the details come to light.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "flood of abuse", ensure the context clearly indicates a substantial and overwhelming amount of harmful or negative communication. Avoid using it for minor disagreements or isolated incidents.

Common error

Be mindful of hyperbole. Using "flood of abuse" when the situation involves only a few negative comments can diminish the impact of the phrase when describing truly severe harassment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "flood of abuse" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a large quantity of abusive remarks or actions directed towards someone or something. Ludwig confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "flood of abuse" is a noun phrase used to describe a large and overwhelming amount of negative or harmful comments directed at someone, as validated by Ludwig. It's grammatically correct and most often found in news and media contexts. While the phrase is accurate, it's crucial to ensure the intensity matches the situation to avoid hyperbole. Alternatives like "deluge of criticism" or "onslaught of insults" can provide similar meaning with slight nuances. Remember, the phrase serves to emphasize the severity and impact of negativity, and careful usage ensures clarity and accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deluge of criticism

Replaces 'abuse' with 'criticism' and 'flood' with 'deluge', focusing on critical feedback rather than outright abuse. The structure remains similar.

onslaught of insults

Substitutes 'flood' with 'onslaught' and 'abuse' with 'insults', emphasizing the aggressive nature of the negative communication.

barrage of attacks

Replaces 'flood' with 'barrage' and 'abuse' with 'attacks', highlighting the intensity and aggressive nature of the actions.

torrent of condemnation

Uses 'torrent' instead of 'flood' and 'condemnation' in place of 'abuse', conveying a strong sense of disapproval and censure.

wave of negativity

Replaces 'flood' with 'wave' and 'abuse' with 'negativity', providing a more general and less accusatory tone.

outpouring of vitriol

Substitutes 'flood' with 'outpouring' and 'abuse' with 'vitriol', emphasizing the bitter and malicious quality of the negative expression.

mountain of complaints

Uses 'mountain' instead of 'flood' and 'complaints' in place of 'abuse', focusing on grievances and objections.

stream of invective

Replaces 'flood' with 'stream' and 'abuse' with 'invective', emphasizing the insulting and abusive language used.

mass of denunciation

Substitutes 'flood' with 'mass' and 'abuse' with 'denunciation', highlighting a public condemnation.

hailstorm of criticism

Uses 'hailstorm' instead of 'flood' and 'criticism' in place of 'abuse', emphasizing the intensity and overwhelming nature of the critical feedback.

FAQs

How can I use "flood of abuse" in a sentence?

You can use "flood of abuse" to describe a situation where someone receives a large amount of criticism or harmful comments. For example, "After the announcement, the company received a "flood of abuse" on social media".

What's a less intense alternative to "flood of abuse"?

If "flood of abuse" seems too strong, consider using phrases like "wave of criticism" or "stream of complaints", which suggest negativity but with less intensity.

Is "flood of abuse" appropriate for describing online harassment?

Yes, "flood of abuse" is often used to describe online harassment, especially when someone is targeted by a large number of negative or hateful comments. However, ensure the scale of the harassment warrants such a strong description.

What is the difference between "flood of abuse" and "constructive criticism"?

"Flood of abuse" describes overwhelming negativity and harmful comments, while "constructive criticism" aims to provide helpful feedback for improvement. The former is destructive, whereas the latter is intended to be beneficial.