ILL-TREAT Synonyms: 45 Similar and Opposite Words

ill-treat

verb

ˈil-ˈtrēt

Definition of ill-treat

as in to abuse

to inflict physical or emotional harm upon anyone who ill-treats their pets should not be allowed to have any

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of ill-treat Declarants describe detentions following their civil immigration arrests that deprived them of basic human dignity, including being ill-treated, with inadequate food and uncomfortable and crowded sleeping facilities, and being denied medical attention. — New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025 But that shouldn’t, in my mind, make an excuse for ill-treating a patient. — Jessica Schreifels, ProPublica, 26 Sep. 2025 There is a troubling suggestion of abuse, implying that Jack might have been ill-treated by his mom (and saved by Helen), rather than heartlessly abandoned. — Tomris Laffly, Variety, 14 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ill-treat

Verb

When Platner arrived, the place seemed haunted not only by American misconduct but also by Saddam Hussein’s use of it to imprison and abuse political dissidents during his reign.

— Jasper Craven, New Yorker, 24 July 2026
To overturn the trial court's decision would require an appellate court to find that the trial court abused its discretion ― which is a very high bar to hurdle.

— Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

Definition of abuse

Verb

In June, Hilton returned to the Provo Canyon School to support two families who filed lawsuits alleging that their children were mistreated at the school.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 July 2026
This is not the only group of women who’ve been mistreated and not listened to.

— Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 17 July 2026

Definition of mistreat

Verb

Parents lodged complaints about coaches, at least one athlete claimed they were being bullied and harassed by a teammate, and rival programs raised concerns about the team’s behavior in competitions.

— Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 23 July 2026
For a long time, our leading hypothesis was bullying and violence, but that may be a bit impractical, given their kingdoms are vast networks of tunnels that can stretch for up to three kilometers.

— Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 21 July 2026

Definition of bully

Verb

Yes, Emmett Till, the 14-year-old Black boy who was abducted, tortured and lynched in Mississippi in 1955 after a White woman accused him of making an advance toward her.

— Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 July 2026
The case involves allegations by three men that they were tortured while imprisoned in Venezuela.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026

Definition of torture

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ill-tempered

ill-treat

ill-treated

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“Ill-treat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ill-treat. Accessed 31 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of ill-treat

verb

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