ill-usage
Harsh, unkind treatment
Ill-usage is harsh or cruel treatment.
The term is formal and somewhat old-fashioned, appearing more often in legal or literary contexts than everyday speech: The court documented years of ill-usage by her guardian.
Mistreatment and abuse are more common synonyms.
Cruel or harmful behavior
- maltreatmentCruel or harmful treatment
- crueltyDeliberate harm-causing disposition
- brutalitySavage, merciless behavior
- harmInjury or damage
injury · violence · exploitation · oppression · persecution · victimization · tyranny · torment
Failure to exercise care
- inattentionLack of focus
- oversightSupervision or inadvertent omission
- omissionFailure to include
- indifferenceLack of interest
abandonment · dereliction · carelessness · heedlessness · disregard · laxity · remissness · unconcern
Disdainful disregard
- disdainScornful disregard
- scornHostile dismissive feeling
- derisionContemptuous mockery
- mockeryScornful ridicule or travesty
ridicule · insult · belittlement · disparagement · denigration · degradation · humiliation · discourtesy
mistreatment
Cruel or harmful behavior
- maltreatmentCruel or harmful treatment
- crueltyDeliberate harm-causing disposition
- brutalitySavage, merciless behavior
harm · injury · violence · exploitation · oppression · persecution · victimization · tyranny · torment · subjugation
negligence
Failure to exercise care
- inattentionLack of focus
- oversightSupervision or inadvertent omission
- omissionFailure to include
indifference · abandonment · dereliction · carelessness · heedlessness · disregard · laxity · remissness · unconcern · apathy
contempt
Disdainful disregard
mockery · ridicule · insult · belittlement · disparagement · denigration · degradation · humiliation · discourtesy · rudeness
ill-usagekindness
Considerate, caring disposition
care · benevolence · nurturing · compassion · consideration