abusar

Senses

1. 1.

   to abuse, to take advantage of

   to use something or someone excessively or improperly, often exploiting trust or power

2. 2.

   to go too far, to overdo it

   to exceed reasonable limits in behavior, consumption, or actions

3. 3.

   to sexually abuse, to molest

   to commit sexual assault or inappropriate sexual conduct

Examples

• "Ele abusou da confiança dos amigos ao pedir dinheiro emprestado e nunca devolver."

  He abused his friends' trust by borrowing money and never paying it back.

• "Não abuse da bebida alcoólica, especialmente se você vai dirigir."

  Don't overdo it with alcohol, especially if you're going to drive.

• "A empresa foi multada por abusar do poder econômico no mercado."

  The company was fined for abusing its economic power in the market.

Usage

This verb typically requires the preposition "de" (abusar de algo/alguém). Common collocations include "abusar da confiança" (abuse trust), "abusar do poder" (abuse power), and "abusar da sorte" (push one's luck). The sexual abuse meaning is serious and formal, often appearing in legal or news contexts.