as in abused
to inflict physical or emotional harm upon
anyone who ill-treats their pets should not be allowed to have any
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Recent Examples of ill-treated
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
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
New York Times, 2 Dec. 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-treated
Verb
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According to figures from the National Domestic Violence Hotline, 12 million people experience domestic and intimate partner violence annually, with approximately 24 people physically abused every minute.—
Rick Kogan,
Chicago Tribune,
17 June 2026
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Prosecutors detailed how Herbert allegedly groomed and abused the now 24-year-old victim for years.—
Aunya Butler,
CBS News,
16 June 2026
Verb
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This time Hilton was speaking in support of two families who filed lawsuits Monday alleging that their children were mistreated at Provo Canyon School, the same facility where Hilton spent almost a year in the late 1990s.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 June 2026
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The Chinese have been broug ht here to work on railroads, to work on farms and they were mistreated.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Six men lured victims to resort then tortured them at gunpoint, FBI says.—
,
FOXNews.com,
16 June 2026
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And in today's world, with the advent of cyberbullying, thanks to every kid having a digital footprint, a child can be tortured without even seeing their bully face-to-face.—
Sarah Scott,
Parents,
10 June 2026
Verb
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With Ethan Hawke's newbie simmering against the go-for-broke finesse of Denzel Washington's very bad, no-good officer, Training Day revels in tension, with washes of blue and green augmenting scenes where Hawke is bullied into getting high.—
Eric Farwell,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 June 2026
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In 2019, Teresa and Gia shared that then-9-year-old Audriana was bullied at school because of her father.—
Jamie Ballard,
PEOPLE,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ill-treated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ill-treated. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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