ILL-TREATED Synonyms: 47 Similar and Opposite Words

ill-treated

verb

past tense of ill-treat

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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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-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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ill-treated

Verb

Lynn has tried to warn people about the older brother who abused her.

— Jeremy Kohler, ProPublica, 20 July 2026
Allegations Of Abuse Against David Brouillette Ashley Brouillette and another ex-wife of the ICE agent, whom the AP did not name, have both alleged David Brouillette abused them and their children.

— Alison Durkee, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Definition of abused

Verb

There’s a lot of talk about dogs being bred and sold, and Lopez said she’s seen evidence of animals being mistreated.

— Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
By 1790, half of the world's coffee was being grown in the French colony of Saint-Domingue, in what is today Haiti, Pendergrast says, where slaves were routinely mistreated, raped and murdered.

— James Doubek, NPR, 3 July 2026

Definition of mistreated

Verb

Where the film diverts from the norm lies in the unique, complicated characters and their weird, tortured even touching relationships.

— Randy Myers, Mercury News, 16 July 2026
Along these routes, the bulldozers piled up mounds to enclose fortified compounds, military outposts and detention facilities where Palestinians were interrogated and tortured.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 July 2026

Definition of tortured

Verb

In the series, Elle transfers from Truham Grammar School for Boys, where she was bullied, to Harvey Greene Grammar School for Girls following her transition.

— Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 18 July 2026
Two weeks after being bullied off X by gangs of LIB truthers, German soccer fan Freddy, whose wholesome social media posts on American culture during his travels around the country early in the World Cup, has returned to the app.

— Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 July 2026

Definition of bullied

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“Ill-treated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ill-treated. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of ill-treated

verb

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