maltreat
Handle with cruelty
To maltreat is to treat someone or something cruelly or roughly: The prisoners were maltreated during interrogation.
The word implies sustained abuse or neglect rather than a single incident.
Maltreat is more formal than mistreat, though they share the same meaning.
Cause physical harm
- woundCoiled, or an injury
- hurtCause or feel pain
- damageHarm or impairment
- bruiseDiscolored tissue injury
batter · maim · traumatize · assault · violate · disfigure · lacerate · scar
Bring under dominion
- tyrannizeRule by oppression
- dominateControl through superior strength
- persecuteHarass cruelly, persistently
- enslaveForce into bondage
exploit · dehumanize · coerce · intimidate · discriminate · marginalize · repress · suppress
Deliberate infliction of suffering
- anguishIntense mental suffering
- sufferingSustained experience of distress
- agonyExtreme physical or emotional pain
- bullyHabitual intimidator
harass · taunt · mock · terrorize · intimidate · demean · humiliate · degrade
Leave behind permanently
- disregardWillful lack of attention
- negligenceFailure to exercise care
- deprivationState of lacking necessities
- forsakeAbandon completely
dereliction · inattention · starvation · malnourishment · withhold · deny · ignore · overlook
Savage, merciless behavior
- inhumanityExtreme cruelty toward others
- sadismPleasure from inflicting pain
- barbaritySavage or cruel behavior
- savageryExtreme, violent cruelty
viciousness · callousness · heartlessness · mercilessness · pitilessness · ruthlessness · malevolence · malice
injure
Cause physical harm
bruise · batter · maim · traumatize · assault · violate · disfigure · lacerate · scar · impair
subjugate
Bring under dominion
- tyrannizeRule by oppression
- dominateControl through superior strength
- persecuteHarass cruelly, persistently
enslave · exploit · dehumanize · coerce · intimidate · discriminate · marginalize · repress · suppress · trafficking
torture
Deliberate infliction of suffering
- anguishIntense mental suffering
- sufferingSustained experience of distress
- agonyExtreme physical or emotional pain
bully · harass · taunt · mock · terrorize · intimidate · demean · humiliate · degrade · belittle
abandon
Leave behind permanently
- disregardWillful lack of attention
- negligenceFailure to exercise care
- deprivationState of lacking necessities
forsake · dereliction · inattention · starvation · malnourishment · withhold · deny · ignore · overlook · uncared-for
brutality
Savage, merciless behavior
- inhumanityExtreme cruelty toward others
- sadismPleasure from inflicting pain
- barbaritySavage or cruel behavior
savagery · viciousness · callousness · heartlessness · mercilessness · pitilessness · ruthlessness · malevolence · malice · cold-bloodedness