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ill-treated

ill-treated

1 4.9
Hurt or not cared for by other people
  • adjective
  • /ɪl ˈtriːtɪd/
  • NSFW
translation icon : maltratado

To be so poorly paid and so badly treated.

Examples

  • In fact, we were ill-treated in that place from some British officers.

  • In their own behaviour towards us, they ill-treated us.

  • And I can tell you what, if their identities had been revealed as special forces, they would have been very badly treated indeed by the Iraqis.

  • The Liberian declaration described how the former slaves had been so ill-treated in the United States that they were forced to come to Africa as 'asylum from our deep degradation'.

    Academic text (2010)
  • Bauer asserted that Christians were being ill-treated because South Carolina has a license plate promoting non-belief.

    Academic text (2010)
  • The workers felt they were being ill-treated by their supervisor, who often yelled at them for minor mistakes.

  • During the war, many civilians were ill-treated by occupying forces, suffering from both neglect and violence.

  • The anecdote highlighted how the animals were ill-treated in the circus, living in cramped cages without care.

Synonyms

ill-used
vsill-treated
  • NSFW
1 8.1

Treated badly by other people

highlights harsh or cruel acts rather than just unfairness
battered
vsill-treated
  • NSFW
1 4.6

A person who has been hurt physically or emotionally by someone many times

focuses on harsh treatment generally, not only repeated injury
maltreated
vsill-treated
  • NSFW
5.7

Hurt or abused by other people

means the same harsh treatment without extra nuance
abused
vsill-treated
  • NSFW
4.2

Treated cruelly or violently, often more than once

focuses on harsh treatment but without stressing repetition
mistreated
vsill-treated
4.1

Treated cruelly or unfairly by other people

emphasizes harshness rather than neutral or fair treatment
tortured
vsill-treated
  • Offensive
6.6

Feeling deep emotional pain and distress

denotes harsh treatment broadly, not only extreme pain
victimized
vsill-treated
  • US
6.4

Treated unfairly and made to suffer by other people

stresses cruel or harsh acts rather than general unfairness
treated like a dog
vsill-treated
  • Offensive
8.1

To behave badly towards someone and show no respect

describes cruel or harsh treatment more than mere disrespect

Antonyms

68 2.9

Someone looks after them to keep them healthy and safe

How Treated

tortured
  • Offensive
6.6
abused
  • NSFW
4.2
ill-treated
  • NSFW
1 4.9
neglected
3.7

Surface Forms

ill-treated positive
ill-treater comparative
ill-treatedest superlative

Morphology

ill-treated = treated (transparent) = ill + treat + ed

The adjective is formed by adding the adverbial/negative element 'ill-' to 'treated', giving the clear meaning 'badly treated'.

Etymology

The word ill-treated breaks into ill- meaning 'bad', as in ill-will or ill-tempered, and treated from treat, meaning 'to act toward someone', as in treatment. So, ill-treated describes someone who was acted toward badly, or treated cruelly or unfairly.