ill-treat
Act meanly toward
To ill-treat is to treat someone or something cruelly or harshly: The dog had clearly been ill-treated by its previous owner.
The word implies ongoing mistreatment rather than a single incident.
More common in British English; Americans tend toward mistreat or abuse.
To harm or neglect
- misuseImproper application
- exploitNotable act or abuse
- oppressUnjustly burden or dominate
- victimizeHarm someone deliberately
persecute · subjugate · bully · torment · tyrannize · domineer · wrong · manhandle
Violent offensive act
- batterUncooked cake mixture
- beatRhythmic pulse or strike
- thrashBeat violently or defeat utterly
- pummelStrike repeatedly with fists
maul · bruise · wound · injure · flog · whip · lash · strike
Leave behind permanently
- disregardWillful lack of attention
- ignoreRefuse to notice
- overlookMiss or commanding view
- negligenceFailure to exercise care
deprive · starve · fail · forsake · desert · deny · untended · malnourish
Harm or impairment
- hurtCause or feel pain
- impairTo diminish or damage
- traumatizeCause lasting psychological harm
- afflictCause persistent distress
scar · distress · break · crush · destroy · ruin · wreck · devastate
Savage, merciless behavior
- inhumanityExtreme cruelty toward others
- sadismPleasure from inflicting pain
- barbaritySavage or cruel behavior
- viciousnessExtreme cruelty or spite
callousness · heartlessness · mercilessness · savagery · pitilessness · malice · cold-bloodedness · harshness
mistreat
To harm or neglect
victimize · persecute · subjugate · bully · torment · tyrannize · domineer · wrong · manhandle · molest
assault
Violent offensive act
pummel · maul · bruise · wound · injure · flog · whip · lash · strike · kick
abandon
Leave behind permanently
negligence · deprive · starve · fail · forsake · desert · deny · untended · malnourish · underfeed
damage
Harm or impairment
- hurtCause or feel pain
- impairTo diminish or damage
- traumatizeCause lasting psychological harm
afflict · scar · distress · break · crush · destroy · ruin · wreck · devastate · shatter
brutality
Savage, merciless behavior
- inhumanityExtreme cruelty toward others
- sadismPleasure from inflicting pain
- barbaritySavage or cruel behavior
viciousness · callousness · heartlessness · mercilessness · savagery · pitilessness · malice · cold-bloodedness · harshness · ruthlessness
treat, ill, illness, treaty, treatment, maltreat, maltreated, maltreatment, maltreating