ill-use

[ verb il-yooz; noun il-yoos ]

verb (used with object)

, ill-used, ill-us·ing.

1. to treat badly, unjustly, cruelly, etc.

noun

1. Also ill-us·age []. bad, unjust, or cruel treatment.

ill-use

verb

1. to use badly or cruelly; abuse; maltreat

noun

1. harsh or cruel treatment; abuse

Word History and Origins

Origin of ill-use¹

First recorded in 1835–45

Example Sentences

“I will not let them live for strangers to ill-use,” she thought—

From Literature

"She did not ill-use me. Indeed, I do not believe that she ever knew that I was there at all. Is that not peculiar?"

From Literature

“Yes, at once; so that he will never again have an opportunity to ill-use any one of you.”

From Project Gutenberg

"Oh, probably because she can ill-use it to her heart's content."

From Project Gutenberg

"They might ill-use him, and he's been ill-used more than enough already."

From Project Gutenberg