Crossword Genius

Sailor employed and mistreated (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

abused

'mistreated' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'sailor employed' is the wordplay.
'sailor' becomes 'ab' (abbreviation for able seaman).
'employed' becomes 'used' ('use' can be a synonym of 'employ').
'ab'+'used'='ABUSED'

'and' is the link.

(Other definitions for abused that I've seen before include "Reviled, or used wrongly like drugs" , "Swore at" , "Took undue advantage of" , "Criminally maltreated" , "Offended" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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