Abuse could be a bit dire (8)
I believe the answer is:
diatribe
'abuse' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'could be a bit dire' is the wordplay.
'could be' indicates an anagram.
'a'+'bit'+'dire'='abitdire'
'abitdire' with letters rearranged gives 'DIATRIBE'.
(Other definitions for diatribe that I've seen before include "Hostile rant" , "Vehement criticism" , "Long speech" , "A Prolonged harangue" , "Stream of invective" .)