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ill-use

[ verb il-yooz; noun il-yoos ]
/ verb ˈɪlˈyuz; noun ˈɪlˈyus /
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See synonyms for ill-use on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object), ill-used, ill-us·ing.
to treat badly, unjustly, cruelly, etc.
noun
Also ill-usage. bad, unjust, or cruel treatment.
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Origin of ill-use

First recorded in 1835–45
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

Words related to ill-use

dissipate, exhaust, ill-treat, maltreat, mishandle, mistreat, misuse, overburden, overtax, overwork, prostitute, spoil, squander, taint, waste, misemploy

British Dictionary definitions for ill-use

ill-use
verb (ˈɪlˈjuːz)
to use badly or cruelly; abuse; maltreat
noun (ˈɪlˈjuːs) ill-usage
harsh or cruel treatment; abuse
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
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