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Synonyms

ill-treat

American  
[il-treet] / ˈɪlˈtrit /

verb (used with object)

  1. to treat badly; maltreat; abuse.


ill-treat British  

verb

  1. (tr) to behave cruelly or harshly towards; misuse; maltreat

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • ill-treatment noun

Etymology

Origin of ill-treat

First recorded in 1695–1705

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He has also been charged with 20 counts of assault, ill-treat, neglect, abandon a child, young person to cause unnecessary suffering, injury.

From BBC

The 25-year-old, of Pearl Street in Stockport, who pleaded guilty at Manchester Crown Court to four counts of wilfully ill-treating children, is the second worker from the nursery to be jailed.

From BBC

The court heard she had already been banned from keeping animals after being convicted in December 2023 of ill-treating horses, chickens and ducks.

From BBC

While Dita anxiously seeks treatment options, the more abrasive Suada accuses her doctor of ill-treating patients who, like her, belong to the maligned ethnic group known as Roma.

From New York Times

Wilmot was convicted of encouraging Hudson to ill-treat a patient and also pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal medication from the hospital.

From BBC