Abusive
Abusive adjective - Marked by harsh insulting language.
Usage example: never one to believe that honorable people can disagree honorably, he invariably launches abusive attacks against anyone who dares to challenge him
Respectful is an antonym for abusive in exhibiting unkind behavior or words topic.
Respectful
Respectful adjective - Marked by or showing proper regard for another's higher status.
Usage example: the children were remarkably respectful while in the president's office
Abusive is an antonym for respectful.
Both words in one sentence
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Common gangster-story examples are to have the Neighbourhood-Friendly Gangsters, by contrast with the Ruthless Foreign Gangsters, refuse to sell illegal drugs, or be respectful and non-abusive in their treatment of the women who they pimp.
Source: Even Evil Has Standards
Cite this Source
Respectful and Abusive. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/abusive/respectful
Abusive & Respectful. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/abusive/respectful>.
Respectful or Abusive. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/abusive/respectful.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "abusive" and "respectful" have occurred on timeline