ill-treat vs mistreat

Both "ill-treat" and "mistreat" are correct and commonly used in English. They both mean to treat someone or something badly or cruelly. The choice between them depends on personal preference or the specific context in which they are used.

Last updated: March 24, 2024 • 1140 views

This is a correct and commonly used phrase in English.

"ill-treat"

The term "ill-treat" means to treat someone or something badly or cruelly. It is often used in formal or legal contexts.

Examples:

The animal welfare organization reported cases of ill-treatment of farm animals.
It is against the law to ill-treat prisoners in any circumstances.

Show examples from the web [+]

"And thereby did beat, bruise, wound and ill-treat her"
That is no reason to ill-treat them.
There is public concern, because police officers who ill-treat detainees (both physically and psychologically) are seldom brought to book, except when the victims die.
How does the Commission ascertain that children, having gone back to Member States, have been returned to the custody of families disqualified as guardians or at any rate who systematically exploit or ill-treat children, both within the EU in general and as regards Romania in particular?
Article 223(1) of the Penal Code stipulates that: Anyone who physically ill-treats another person or damages his or her health shall be punished by not more than five years' imprisonment or by a fine.
"It was good to know that if you did not treat them ill,"

Alternatives:

mistreat
abuse
maltreat
harm
injure

This is a correct and commonly used phrase in English.

"mistreat"

The term "mistreat" also means to treat someone or something badly or cruelly. It is a more common and informal term compared to "ill-treat."

Examples:

She felt mistreated by her colleagues at work.
Parents should never mistreat their children.

Show examples from the web [+]

And I'm not going to allow you to mistreat me.
It should be illegal to mistreat cars this way.
I have never seen the army knowingly mistreat a patient.
The men mistreat you, Cookie.
What, you're here to protect them while they mistreat and torture the chickens on this farm and the people who live downwind of its foul emanations?
Why should I mistreat those who love me?
Look, if... if we don't fight this, Gowest airline is going to continue to mistreat their passengers.
In fact the Treaty of Lisbon, as I read it, is very strong on the social dimension and has no desire to mistreat or abuse workers throughout the European Union or elsewhere.
Watch, mistreat this world... ...they violate this earth, take everything what they want of her... ...because, knows what?
The corporals are the ones who exploit and oppress, who mistreat and humiliate others.
For letting his father mistreat him.
The Red Army wouldn't mistreat civilians.
Just because someone's going through a hard time doesn't mean they can mistreat you.
People despise and mistreat me... I tranquilize them...
Maybe Crais won't mistreat him.
And no, I never drink enough to mistreat my son.
I DO NOT mistreat the dog.
Foreign troops have allowed Iraqi security forces to mistreat prisoners, and even torture and murder them.
How else did she mistreat you?
Why do you let him mistreat you?

Alternatives:

ill-treat
abuse
maltreat
harm
injure

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ill-treat vs mistreat

"ill-treat"

"mistreat"

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