noun

abuser

abuser, perpetrator

The abuser was finally brought to justice.

The abuser was finally brought to justice.

He is a known substance abuser.

He is a known substance abuser.

((an abuser of sth.)) a person who abuses (sth.) He is an abuser of power.

Synonyms: perpetrator, offender, tormentor; Antonyms: protector, guardian

From the verb 'abuse' plus the agent suffix '-er'. 'Abuse' comes from Latin 'ab-' (away, wrongly) + 'uti' (to use), meaning 'one who uses wrongly'.

Think of an 'ab-use-r' as a person who makes 'abnormal use' of something or someone.

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