maltreating
Harming through neglect
Maltreating is treating someone or something cruelly or abusively.
The word implies harmful treatment through action or neglect: The documentary exposed workers maltreating animals at the factory farm.
It appears in formal contexts—legal documents, official reports, clinical literature—more often than in casual speech.
Deliberate harm-causing disposition
- brutalitySavage, merciless behavior
- tormentSevere prolonged suffering
- persecutionSystematic mistreatment of groups
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
victimization · exploitation · harassment · intimidation · bullying · tyranny · subjugation · coercion
Causing severe distress
- terrorizingInstilling extreme fear
- beratingHarsh verbal criticism
- belittlingExpressing contempt or dismissiveness
- demeaningCausing loss of respect
degrading · humiliating · intimidating · threatening · manipulating · gaslighting · isolating · controlling
Act of leaving permanently
- deprivationState of lacking necessities
- starvationExtreme nutritional deprivation
- withholdingKeeping from another
- ignoringDeliberately not noticing
disregarding · failing · denying · undernourishing · isolating · deserting · forsaking · starving
cruelty
Deliberate harm-causing disposition
- brutalitySavage, merciless behavior
- tormentSevere prolonged suffering
- persecutionSystematic mistreatment of groups
oppression · victimization · exploitation · harassment · intimidation · bullying · tyranny · subjugation · coercion · aggression
tormenting
Causing severe distress
- terrorizingInstilling extreme fear
- beratingHarsh verbal criticism
- belittlingExpressing contempt or dismissiveness
demeaning · degrading · humiliating · intimidating · threatening · manipulating · gaslighting · isolating · controlling · verbal
abandonment
Act of leaving permanently
- deprivationState of lacking necessities
- starvationExtreme nutritional deprivation
- withholdingKeeping from another
ignoring · disregarding · failing · denying · undernourishing · isolating · deserting · forsaking · starving · depriving
assault
Violent offensive act
- batteryPortable electricity storage
- beatingRepeated striking or pulsing
- hittingMaking forceful contact
striking · kicking · punching · slapping · shoving · burning · scalding · bruising · wounding · injuring
maltreatingnurturing
Supportive care-giving
caring for · cherishing · pampering · protecting · coddling
treat, retreat, treatment, mistreat, maltreat, mistreated, entreat, mistreatment, maltreated