abuse of power
Exploiting official position
Abuse of power is the misuse of authority for personal gain, to harm others, or for purposes beyond what the position legitimately allows.
The phrase typically describes officials, executives, or anyone in a position of trust who exploits that position: The investigation revealed years of abuse of power by local police.
It can range from petty favoritism to systematic corruption or tyranny.
- briberyCorrupt payment for influence
- graftIllicit political gain
- false arrestIllegal detention of someone
- nepotismPreferring kin in hiring
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
lie · fear · dehumanization · police misconduct · political repression · enemies list · authoritarianism · whistleblower protection · miscarriage of justice · embezzlement · fraud · executive overreach · Rodney King · kangaroo court · breach of trust · exploitation · coercion · undue influence
- political ethicsethical standards, public trust, conflict of interest, conflicts of interest, impartiality
- policingpatrol, arrests, police officer, arrest, badges
- wrongdoingmisconduct, crime, sabotage, crimes, misbehavior
- corruptioncorruption, graft, kickbacks, bribery, bribes
- misconductmisconduct, bullying, stealing, vandalism, cheating
- ethics violationsbribery, bribes, kickbacks, kickback, nepotism
abuse of powerrule of law
Supremacy of established laws
checks and balances · accountability · due process · separation of powers · legal authority
abuse of powergood governance
Accountable, transparent institutional management
servant leadership · accountability · transparency · stewardship · public service
abuse of powerempowerment
Gaining authority or confidence
advocacy · guardianship · democratization · power sharing · justice
power, abuse, powerful, abused, abusive, powerless, powers, abuser, powered