disservice
Unhelpful act done
A disservice is an action that harms rather than helps someone, often despite good intentions: You do students a disservice by not challenging them.
The word typically appears with "do" and implies the opposite of service or benefit: The sensationalized coverage did a disservice to the victims.
Unjust or biased treatment
- inequityUnfair distribution or treatment
- wrongdoingUnethical or illegal action
- mistreatmentCruel or harmful behavior
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
bias · prejudice · partiality · favoritism · oppression · victimization · exploitation · maltreatment
Physical or psychological harm
impairment · setback · drawback · hindrance · disadvantage · disfavor · disbenefit · liability
Breach of allegiance
- breachBreaking of agreement
- double-crossTreacherous deception of partner
- backstabbingCovert betrayal of trust
- treacheryDeliberate violation of trust
deceit · sellout · letdown · abandonment · false friend · unfaithfulness · bad faith
Failure to exercise care
- carelessnessInattention causing mistakes
- oversightSupervision or inadvertent omission
- inattentionLack of focus
- disregardWillful lack of attention
omission · dereliction · lapse · remissness · slackness · indifference · apathy · thoughtlessness
unfairness
Unjust or biased treatment
- inequityUnfair distribution or treatment
- wrongdoingUnethical or illegal action
- mistreatmentCruel or harmful behavior
discrimination · bias · prejudice · partiality · favoritism · oppression · victimization · exploitation · maltreatment · abuse
injury
Physical or psychological harm
detriment · impairment · setback · drawback · hindrance · disadvantage · disfavor · disbenefit · liability · burden
disloyalty
Breach of allegiance
- breachBreaking of agreement
- double-crossTreacherous deception of partner
- backstabbingCovert betrayal of trust
treachery · deceit · sellout · letdown · abandonment · false friend · unfaithfulness · bad faith
negligence
Failure to exercise care
- carelessnessInattention causing mistakes
- oversightSupervision or inadvertent omission
- inattentionLack of focus
disregard · omission · dereliction · lapse · remissness · slackness · indifference · apathy · thoughtlessness · heedlessness
- DIS- wordsdisagree, disallow, disbelieve, disapprove, disarray
- negative effectsdamage, harm, loss, drawback, disadvantage
disservicejustice
Fair treatment under law
fairness · fair treatment · equity · equitableness · fair shake