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ill-use

/ɪlˈjuːz//ɪlˈjuːs/

verb

To treat someone badly, cruelly or unkindly.

Similar

mistreat maltreat abuse step ill-treat

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Meanings

verbill-use (third-person singular simple present ill-uses, present participle ill-using, simple past and past participle ill-used)

present singular third person ill-uses · participle present ill-using · participle past ill-used · past ill-used

To treat someone badly, cruelly or unkindly.
A Newcastle shunter, Goodchild, working at one end of Forth Goods Yard, was for some reason moved to the other end, with no loss of pay: he thought he was ill-used and ceased work, as did a number of sympathisers.
1958 March 28, T. Preston, “North Eastern Memories”, in Railway Magazine, page 206

nounill-use (uncountable)

uncountableBad, cruel or unkind treatment.

Synonyms & antonyms

verbtreat badly

Similar

mistreat maltreat abuse step ill-treat

Broader

treat handle do by

Also see

abuse ill-treat maltreat misdo mistreat step

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with ill-use

news use choose whose reduce abuse produce cruise lose blues bruce introduce loose dos Cruz Hughes refuse excuse reproduce reuse goose dues muse fuse

Cite this entry

APA

ill-use. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ill-use

MLA

“ill-use.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ill-use. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ill-use,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ill-use.

Source: ill-use on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.