ill-treat
verb
ˈil-ˈtrēt 
ill-treated; ill-treating; ill-treats
transitive verb
: to treat cruelly or improperly : maltreat
ill-treatment
ˈil-ˈtrēt-mənt
noun 
Synonyms
- abuse
- brutalize
- bully
- ill-use
- kick around
- maltreat
- manhandle
- mess over [slang]
- mishandle
- mistreat
- misuse
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Word History
First Known Use
1689, in the meaning defined above
ill-treat
verb
as in to abuse
to inflict physical or emotional harm upon anyone who ill-treats their pets should not be allowed to have any Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- abuse
- bully
- mistreat
- maltreat
- torture
- injure
- oppress
- ill-use
- persecute
- brutalize
- violate
- manhandle
- misuse
- hurt
- take apart
- mishandle
- molest
- harass
- mess over
- harm
- torment
- outrage
- victimize
- kick around
- wrong
- sandbag
- burn
- work (over)
- beat (up)
- rough (up)
- mess (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- care (for)
- foster
- nurture
- cherish
- gratify
- baby
- indulge
- spoil
- favor
- cater (to)
- pamper
- coddle
- mollycoddle
- humor