ILL-USAGE Synonyms: 27 Similar and Opposite Words

ill-usage

noun

Definition of ill-usage

as in mistreatment

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ill-usage

Noun

Federal prosecutors accuse Maduro and Flores of directing a campaign of political repression involving brutal interrogations, arbitrary detentions and the mistreatment of prisoners.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026
The tale is not just about an individual tragedy but one that exposes inequities involving the mistreatment of juveniles and the corrupting influence of power.

— Marcus Librizzi, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of mistreatment

Noun

Ferger was cited on six counts of ill-treatment and cruelty to animals, six counts involving duties of animal owners and three counts involving maintenance of premises.

— Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2026
Officers understood that a move against Maduro without clear guarantees of immunity meant risking imprisonment, torture, confiscation of assets, and the ill-treatment of their families.

— Bobby Ghosh, Time, 3 Jan. 2026

Definition of ill-treatment

Noun

The program is linked to a 32% drop in infant maltreatment reports, which represents a massive prevention of child welfare involvement.

— Mona Hanna, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2026
The maltreatment eventually led her to run away, later re-entering foster care.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026

Definition of maltreatment

Noun

The lawsuits say Clancy strangled the three children in the basement of the family's Duxbury home during a mental health crisis exacerbated by poor medical treatment and prescription mismanagement.

— Kristina Rex, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026
Their enthusiastic reception underscored the enduring aspiration for democratic liberty and dignity after decades of political repression, economic mismanagement, and corruption.

— the Monitor's Editorial Board, Christian Science Monitor, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of mismanagement

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.

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illumining

ill-usage

ill-usages

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“Ill-usage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ill-usage. Accessed 3 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of ill-usage

noun

Example Sentences

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