ILL-USE Synonyms: 45 Similar and Opposite Words

ill-use

verb

ˈil-ˈyüz

Definition of ill-use

as in to abuse

to inflict physical or emotional harm upon some of the employees felt so ill-used by the new manager that they quit

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ill-use

Verb

The scandal led to Paterno’s firing, and the university paid more than $100 million to people who said they were abused by Sandusky.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026
Some critics report being verbally abused, doxxed, and even threatened with rape and death by BJP supporters.

— Omkar Khandekar, NPR, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of abuse

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.

Browse Nearby Words

ill-usages

ill-use

ill-used

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Ill-use.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ill-use. Accessed 9 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of ill-use

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

stigma

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes