shafted
Treated very unfairly
Shafted means cheated, swindled, or treated unfairly—given the short end of a deal.
The image is of being impaled or penetrated, with overtones of the vulgar sense of shaft (penis): I got shafted on that car deal, The company shafted its workers when it cut their pensions.
The word is informal but not quite vulgar.
Secured with threads
- ripped offDefrauded or overcharged
- connedDeceived for gain
- swindledDeceived for gain
- scammedCheated through deception
fleeced · defrauded · duped · bamboozled · hoodwinked · hustled · stiffed · gypped
Treated with injustice
- victimizedTreated cruelly or unfairly
- mistreatedHarmed through poor treatment
- hard done byUnfairly disadvantaged or mistreated
- disadvantagedLacking social or economic resources
screwed over · oppressed · short end of the stick · injustice · inequity · railroaded · set up · framed
Treacherously harmed by ally
- double-crossedBetrayed by supposed ally
- sold outNo inventory remains
- two-timedCheated romantically on someone
- stabbed in the backTreacherously harmed by trusted person
thrown under the bus · let down · ditched · deserted · abandoned · jilted · forsaken · dumped
Bypassed for selection
- overlookedNot noticed or considered
- demotedReduced in rank
- firedTerminated from employment
- laid offDismissed from employment
terminated · sacked · canned · downsized · underpaid · overworked · exploited · used
Shaft for wheel rotation
- driveshaftRotating rod transmitting torque
- camshaftLobed rod operating valves
- crankshaftRotating engine shaft
- spindleRotating rod for thread
rotor · transmission · gearbox · piston · cylinder · connecting rod · torque
screwed
Secured with threads
- ripped offDefrauded or overcharged
- connedDeceived for gain
- swindledDeceived for gain
scammed · fleeced · defrauded · duped · bamboozled · hoodwinked · hustled · stiffed · gypped · bilked
wronged
Treated with injustice
- victimizedTreated cruelly or unfairly
- mistreatedHarmed through poor treatment
- hard done byUnfairly disadvantaged or mistreated
screwed over · disadvantaged · oppressed · short end of the stick · injustice · inequity · railroaded · set up · framed
backstabbed
Treacherously harmed by ally
- double-crossedBetrayed by supposed ally
- sold outNo inventory remains
- two-timedCheated romantically on someone
thrown under the bus · stabbed in the back · let down · ditched · deserted · abandoned · jilted · forsaken · dumped · cast aside
passed over
Bypassed for selection
- overlookedNot noticed or considered
- demotedReduced in rank
- firedTerminated from employment
laid off · terminated · sacked · canned · downsized · underpaid · overworked · exploited · used · scapegoated
axle
Shaft for wheel rotation
- driveshaftRotating rod transmitting torque
- camshaftLobed rod operating valves
- crankshaftRotating engine shaft
spindle · rotor · transmission · gearbox · piston · cylinder · connecting rod · torque
shaftedrewarded
Given something earned
compensated · looked after · taken care of · blessed · helped
- elevator shaftVertical enclosure for lifts
- mine shaftVertical tunnel for extraction
- ventilation shaftPassage for air exchange
- drive shaftRotating torque-transfer bar
- air shaftVertical passage for circulation
- mining shaftVertical underground excavation passage