3 syllables: ab, us, ers. Stress on us.
uh-BYOO-zurz
/əˈbjuzɚz/
abusers is pronounced uh-BYOO-zurz (/əˈbjuzɚz/). It has three syllables (ab-us-ers), with the stress on "us". Abusers refers to people who commit abuse, typically repeatedly or systematically, especially in a context of domestic or interpersonal violence. The term can describe individuals who mistreat others or exploit vulnerabilities. It is frequently used in legal, social-work, and academic discussions to identify perpetrators and examine patterns of harm.
Abusers refers to people who commit abuse, typically repeatedly or systematically, especially in a context of domestic or interpersonal violence. The term can describe individuals who mistreat others or exploit vulnerabilities. It is frequently used in legal, social-work, and academic discussions to identify perpetrators and examine patterns of harm.
"The report catalogues several abusers and the impact of their actions on victims."
"Civic services are prioritizing protection for survivors against ongoing abusers."
"The workshop addressed how communities can hold abusers accountable while supporting victims."
Break it as /ˈæb.juː.zəz/ in US and /ˈæb.juː.zəz/ in UK and AU. Primary stress on the first syllable AB-. The sequence is a-bü-zərz with the /juː/ as a single syllable in the second position. Tip: keep the /juː/ light and blend the final -zərz with a soft, plural s. Listen for the two-syllable onset /ˈæb/ followed by /juː/ and the final /zəz/ cluster; practice saying it slowly, then increase tempo.
Common errors: misplacing stress (shifting to second syllable), pronouncing /juː/ too short as /ju/ or missing it altogether, and hardening the final -ers to /ərz/ without voicing. Correction: keep primary stress on AB-, use a clear /juː/ sequence, and end with /zərz/ by loosening the jaw and voicing the final s with a gentle /z/ then /əz/,
US: /ˈæb.juː.zərz/. UK: /ˈæb.juː.zəz/ with a slightly more rounded /ə/ in the final syllables. AU: /ˈæb.juː.zəz/ similar to UK but with vowel qualities influenced by non-rhotic tendencies and broader final vowel. The key differences are rhoticity and the subtle quality of the final -ers: American tends to a voiced /ər/; British and Australian may reduce vowels in unstressed syllables. Practice with minimal pairs to hear these nuances.
Because it combines a strong initial stress, a two-letter cluster in the second syllable (/juː/), and a final unstressed -ers that contracts into /zəz/ or /əz/. The /juː/ diphthong requires a smooth glide from /j/ to /uː/, and the plural ending must remain voiced and light. Practicing with slow enunciation and then speed helps keep the rhythm natural and clear.
No silent letters in standard pronunciation. Each letter contributes to the spoken form: ab- (AB) with stressed first syllable, -u- forming /juː/ after the b, -sers providing /zərz/ or /zəz/ at the end. The only potential variation is the final vowel quality in unstressed positions across accents, but no silent letters.
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Abuser derives from the verb abuse, which comes from Old French abauser, from late Latin abūtāre meaning “to misuse, plunder.” The noun form abuser entered English in the 16th-17th centuries as a person who commits abuse. The semantic field broadened from criminal or physical harm to psychological and emotional harm, with contemporary usage often oriented toward violent or exploitative behavior within intimate relationships or power imbalances. The word’s morphology retains the -er agent noun suffix, signaling an actor who performs the action. Historically, “abuse” carried connotations of misuse or violation of trust, and by the modern era it encompassed physical, sexual, emotional, and financial forms of harm. In policy and clinical discourse, “abuser” is used alongside “survivor” or “victim,” though it can carry stigmatizing or accusatory tones depending on context. First known usage as a literal agent noun appears in early modern English texts, with the sense expanding in the 19th and 20th centuries as social awareness of domestic violence and institutional responses grew. Today, the term is common in criminology, family law, psychology, and public health discussions, often paired with terms like “risk factors,” “perpetration,” and “accountability.”
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "abusers" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "abusers"
-ers sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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