ill-use
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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"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 "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman
"But mind what you are about, my sparky, and don't think to ill-use me because you happen to be the strongest!"
From The Mysteries of Paris, Volume 2 of 6 by Eugène Sue
But she claims that the day will be fine and not ill-use her.
From The Browning Cyclop?dia A Guide to the Study of the Works of Robert Browning by Edward Berdoe
The remaining part of the population he was to treat with every possible kindness, and strictly to forbid the troops of Garay or any other Spaniards to plunder or in anywise to ill-use the inhabitants.
From The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo, Vol 2 (of 2) Written by Himself Containing a True and Full Account of the Discovery and Conquest of Mexico and New Spain. by Bernal Díaz del Castillo
"Are you sure it was he who informed against you?" asked Frank; "suppose it was a mistake,—we mustn't ill-use a man who's innocent."
From The Mysteries of Paris, Volume 5 of 6 by Eugène Sue
The master of this animal never ill-uses him nor scolds him, and at feeding-time the dogs are always served before the men.
From The Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 2 by Henry Yule
You'll be good to him, and stand his friend, and teach him seafaring ways, and you'll see that nobody ill-uses him.
From The Sailor by J. C. Snaith
Mr. Watts is too modest in his behaviour, and for that reason the young tyrant despises and ill-uses him.
From Athelstane Ford by Allen Upward
That is, except when he is rude, and ill-uses me, and will not come and apologize!’
From The Hand of Ethelberta by Thomas Hardy
The very readable, if long and winding, “The Calamity Club” focuses on a crew of frequently ill-used, tough-minded white women.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 15, 2026
The film tells us that she’s had a storied career; we see only a helicopter mom played by an ill-used Annette Bening.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 11, 2022
Another problem with the film is that the actors are ill-used or underused.
From Salon ● Jan. 25, 2020
And actually serious party officials like Spicer were ill-used and degraded.
From US News ● Jul. 20, 2016
Fortunately there was not yet much heat or quickness in my heart, and I said to myself that he was an ignorant man, a foreigner, ill-used and frightened.
From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin
“You ought to be ashamed of yourself, sir,” cried Sarah; “and here have I been ill-using this poor boy because— Oh, Pompey, Pompey, Pompey!”
From Mass' George A Boy's Adventures in the Old Savannah by W.T. Smith
"My cousin can't suppose that I am ill-using her," said Tom, who disliked the "Ayala" quite as much as he did the "Mister."
From Ayala's Angel by Anthony Trollope
O, let me hug thee, gentle Fauconbridge; Forgive my oft ill-using of thine age.
From A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 7 by Various
Then they all sallied out and found the Magian who had slaughtered and skinned a camel, ill-using the young Moslem, and saying to him, "Sit thee in this hide."
From The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 08 by Sir Richard Francis Burton
Well, who is this somebody, and who has been ill-using him?
From The Open Door, and the Portrait. Stories of the Seen and the Unseen. by Mrs. (Margaret) Oliphant
