mistreating
Handling with cruelty
Mistreating is the present participle of mistreat, meaning to treat someone or something badly, cruelly, or unfairly.
It suggests ongoing harmful behavior rather than a single incident: The documentary exposed workers mistreating animals at the facility.
Mistreating can range from neglect to active abuse, and applies to people, animals, or even objects when they're handled roughly or carelessly.
Deliberate harm-causing disposition
- neglectingFailing to attend to
- abandoningLeaving permanently behind
- hoardingExcessive accumulation of goods
- fightingEngaging in physical conflict
poaching · overworking · starving · confining · chaining · puppy · mill · shelter
Showing contempt through words
- beratingHarsh verbal criticism
- degradingLowering in worth
- humiliatingCausing painful embarrassment
- mockingScornfully imitating or ridiculing
ridiculing · belittling · demeaning · name-calling · yelling · screaming · threatening · gaslighting
Harming through misuse
- harmingCausing injury or damage
- hurtingFeeling pain or distress
- victimizingHarming or exploiting someone
- brutalizingAttacking with extreme violence
battering · tormenting · persecuting · oppressing · cruelty · violence · trauma · neglect
Aggressive repeated intimidation
- harassingPersistently tormenting another
- discriminatingShowing careful judgment
- intimidatingInspiring fear or unease
- mobbingCollective harassment behavior
belittling · undermining · exploiting · overworking · underpaying · hostile · toxic · supervisor
Deliberately not noticing
- abandoningLeaving permanently behind
- disregardingDeliberately not considering
- forsakingRenouncing or abandoning completely
- starvingSuffering extreme hunger
depriving · withholding · isolating · deserting · uncaring · malnourished · unattended · oversight
cruelty
Deliberate harm-causing disposition
- neglectingFailing to attend to
- abandoningLeaving permanently behind
- hoardingExcessive accumulation of goods
fighting · poaching · overworking · starving · confining · chaining · puppy · mill · shelter · rescue
insulting
Showing contempt through words
- beratingHarsh verbal criticism
- degradingLowering in worth
- humiliatingCausing painful embarrassment
mocking · ridiculing · belittling · demeaning · name-calling · yelling · screaming · threatening · gaslighting · manipulation
abusing
Harming through misuse
- harmingCausing injury or damage
- hurtingFeeling pain or distress
- victimizingHarming or exploiting someone
brutalizing · battering · tormenting · persecuting · oppressing · cruelty · violence · trauma · neglect · exploitation
bullying
Aggressive repeated intimidation
- harassingPersistently tormenting another
- discriminatingShowing careful judgment
- intimidatingInspiring fear or unease
mobbing · belittling · undermining · exploiting · overworking · underpaying · hostile · toxic · supervisor · subordinate
ignoring
Deliberately not noticing
- abandoningLeaving permanently behind
- disregardingDeliberately not considering
- forsakingRenouncing or abandoning completely
starving · depriving · withholding · isolating · deserting · uncaring · malnourished · unattended · oversight · duty
- harmharming, injury, hurting, abuse, injuring
- misusingabusing, mishandling, misapplying, misappropriating, misallocating
mistreatingcaring for
Providing attention and support
nurturing · protecting · cherishing · looking after · pampering
treat, treaty, treatment, treated, treating, mistreat, untreated, treatise, treatable