stream of abuse

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "stream of abuse" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a continuous or overwhelming flow of insults or derogatory remarks directed at someone. Example: "After the controversial decision, the politician faced a relentless stream of abuse on social media."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

Barely had transmission begun when Deen's twitter account was hit by a stream of abuse.

Independent

Ms Kendall's assessment of Labour members comes as party figures warn against what they called a "constant stream of abuse" against members considering voting for Mr Corbyn.

Independent

Senior Labour figures and commentators should stop the "constant stream of abuse" against those who plan to vote for Jeremy Corbyn, a Labour MP has said.

Independent

Few other women politicians have been subjected to quite such a constant stream of abuse: she is ridiculed for her height, her hair colour, her demeanour.

The Guardian

He recently appeared on an Internet forum sponsored by a newspaper, and despite expectations by organizers of a stream of abuse, the session passed without incident.

The New York Times

When an airline clerk refuses to allow Tomas to board a plane, Kaisa goes ballistic, spewing a stream of abuse that nearly lands her in jail.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

Live streaming of abuse has also been identified as a developing problem.

The Guardian - Tech

Helicopters above you, Tannoys bellowing the places of the last race and colourful streams of abuse at losers surround you.

The Guardian - Travel

These included more than 100 rapes, and crimes including grooming, live streaming of abuse and child sexual exploitation.

The Guardian - Tech

The internet was used to commit an average of eight sexual crimes against children each day in the past year, including rapes, grooming and live streaming of abuse, new figures obtained by the NSPCC reveal.

The Guardian

First and foremost, Nolan has had to grapple with the legacy of the Joel Schumacher Batman films, the last of which, Batman & Robin, was famously torpedoed by streams of abuse on internet fan sites.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "stream of abuse", ensure the context clearly indicates a continuous and overwhelming flow of abusive remarks or actions. Provide specific examples to illustrate the nature and impact of the abuse.

Common error

Avoid using "stream of abuse" to describe isolated instances of offensive behavior. The phrase implies a continuous or repeated pattern, not a single event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stream of abuse" functions as a noun phrase, where "stream" acts as the head noun, modified by the prepositional phrase "of abuse". Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Encyclopedias

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "stream of abuse" effectively depicts a continuous and overwhelming flow of abusive language or behavior. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically sound and commonly employed, especially in news and media contexts. When using "stream of abuse", it's crucial to ensure that the context aligns with the continuous nature of the abuse, distinguishing it from isolated incidents. Alternatives such as "outpouring of abuse" or "torrent of insults" can be used to express a similar sentiment, offering nuanced variations in meaning. Overall, "stream of abuse" serves as a potent descriptor for highlighting the severity and persistence of abusive behavior.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

outpouring of abuse

Replaces "stream" with "outpouring", emphasizing a sudden and abundant expression of abuse.

torrent of insults

Uses "torrent" instead of "stream", suggesting a forceful and overwhelming flow of insults.

onslaught of insults

Uses "onslaught" to convey a fierce and sustained attack with insults.

barrage of criticism

Substitutes "abuse" with "criticism", indicating a strong and continuous attack of critical remarks.

deluge of hate

Replaces "abuse" with "hate", highlighting the intense negativity and animosity.

flood of condemnations

Replaces "abuse" with "condemnations", implying a widespread expression of strong disapproval.

tirade of invective

Employs "tirade" and "invective" to suggest a lengthy and aggressive speech filled with abusive language.

series of attacks

Focuses on the repeated nature of the abusive actions.

succession of insults

Highlights the sequential occurrence of insulting remarks.

cycle of denigration

Emphasizes the recurring pattern of disparaging comments.

FAQs

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

You can use "stream of abuse" to describe a continuous flow of insults or derogatory remarks directed at someone, as in "After the controversial decision, the politician faced a relentless stream of abuse on social media".

What are some alternatives to "stream of abuse"?

Alternatives include "outpouring of abuse", "torrent of insults", or "onslaught of insults", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "flow of abuse" instead of "stream of abuse"?

Yes, "flow of abuse" is a correct and semantically similar alternative to "stream of abuse". Both phrases describe a continuous and often overwhelming expression of abusive language or behavior.

What's the difference between "stream of abuse" and "isolated incident of abuse"?

"Stream of abuse" implies a sustained and continuous pattern of abusive behavior, while "isolated incident of abuse" refers to a single, distinct occurrence. The former suggests an ongoing problem, while the latter indicates a one-time event.