Sullied rank, getting maltreated (3-4)
I believe the answer is:
ill-used
'maltreated' is the definition.
('ill-use' can be a synonym of 'maltreat')
'sullied rank' is the wordplay.
'rank' indicates an anagram.
'sullied' anagrammed gives 'ILL-USED'.
'getting' is the link.
(Other definitions for ill-used that I've seen before include "Maltreated" , "Badly treated, exploited" , "Mistreated" .)