Mistreats (6)
I believe the answer is:
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">mistreats</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">('abuse' can be a synonym of 'mistreat')</span><br/ ><br/ >This is all the clue.<br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for abuses that I've seen before include "Reviles or takes undue advantage." , "Treats cruelly" , "Maltreats people or things" , "Reviles and insults" , "Curses" .)