List of 426 Sets of Synonyms - How they Differ - Total of 2307 Words - 2

SYNONYMS: abuse, misuse, mistreat, ill-treat, maltreat.
These verbs mean to treat a person or thing wrongfully, incorrectly, or harmfully.

Abuse applies to injurious, improper, or unreasonable treatment: He had abused his car.
Mistreat, ill-treat, and maltreat all share the sense of inflicting injury, often intentionally, as through malice:
Misuse stresses incorrect or acknowledgeable handling: The library book had been misused. Do not mistreat the prisoners. She had ill-treated the horse. Do not maltreat your pets.