1
as in to abuse
to inflict physical or emotional harm upon
a manager fired for maltreating the staff with needless insults a home for children who have been deprived and maltreated
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to attack
to abuse physically
if you maltreat the puppy, we will take it away immediately
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of maltreat
Lie number 2: Israel has been oppressing and maltreating Palestinians (and denying them a state) for 75 years.
—
Efrem Sigel, New York Daily News, 25 Jan. 2024
In 2022, the World Health Organization estimated that 1 billion children were maltreated each year around the globe.
—Marc D. Hauser, TIME, 3 Apr. 2024
The revelations come after years of intense scrutiny of Texas’ child welfare system, which included reports by blue-ribbon panels, a state district judge in Travis County and a state comptroller citing weak protection of youngsters maltreated by birth families and then roughly handled by the state.
—Allie Morris, Dallas News, 30 June 2023
The family is where you are first misjudged, maltreated, belittled, lied to and beaten—or not.
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 6 June 2023
Coincidentally, a landmark incident that led to the death of a Nigerian happened in 2009 in Guangzhou, where Nigerians were recently maltreated.
—Abdul-Gafar Tobi Oshodi, Quartz Africa, 31 May 2020
Youngsters who live in neighborhoods with more bars or liquor stores are more likely to be maltreated.
—Kunmi Sobowale, Scientific American, 1 July 2017
Efrem Sigel, New York Daily News, 25 Jan. 2024
In 2022, the World Health Organization estimated that 1 billion children were maltreated each year around the globe.
—Marc D. Hauser, TIME, 3 Apr. 2024
The revelations come after years of intense scrutiny of Texas’ child welfare system, which included reports by blue-ribbon panels, a state district judge in Travis County and a state comptroller citing weak protection of youngsters maltreated by birth families and then roughly handled by the state.
—Allie Morris, Dallas News, 30 June 2023
The family is where you are first misjudged, maltreated, belittled, lied to and beaten—or not.
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 6 June 2023
Coincidentally, a landmark incident that led to the death of a Nigerian happened in 2009 in Guangzhou, where Nigerians were recently maltreated.
—Abdul-Gafar Tobi Oshodi, Quartz Africa, 31 May 2020
Youngsters who live in neighborhoods with more bars or liquor stores are more likely to be maltreated.
—Kunmi Sobowale, Scientific American, 1 July 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for maltreat
Verb
-
After killing the nun (Jennifer Ehle) who was her primary abuser within an entire system designed to abuse, Teonna went on the run.—
Christian Blauvelt,
IndieWire,
16 Mar. 2025
-
Google has updated its affiliate link policy following allegations that coupon-clipping website Honey was abusing the program.—
Emily Forlini,
PCMAG,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
When Jensen then decides to go long, Collins and Pinnock move towards the near post and Wissa adjusts his position to be able to attack the second ball.—
Mark Carey,
The Athletic,
13 Mar. 2025
-
The Trump administration has attacked DEI on college campuses with particular zeal, threatening investigations, lawsuits and canceled federal funding.—
Graham Kates,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Black models confided in her, sharing stories of their hair being damaged, mistreated, or outright ignored by stylists unfamiliar with their textures.—
Lyric Christian,
Essence,
12 Mar. 2025
-
Both Kansas City officials and KC Pet Project agree that the city’s current chapter on animal control in the city code has flaws that impede the ability of animal-control officers to go onto private property without permission to impound vicious dogs and animals that are being mistreated.—
Mike Hendricks,
Kansas City Star,
5 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
That was clinched when the Sun Devils manhandled Iowa State in the Big 12 championship game.—
Tom Layberger,
Forbes,
6 Jan. 2025
-
After manhandling the Atlanta Braves last year, the Washington Nationals earned the respect of the opposing manager.—
Dan Schlossberg,
Forbes,
1 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
While being black or white may not be inherent to Snape’s character, Potter fans note that this will set up situations like James Potter bullying a young black kid in the ‘70s which are certainly not good optics and totally change the dynamics of the James/Lily/Snape storyline.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes,
8 Mar. 2025
-
The claims range from a prosecutor addressing an attorney by her first name and interfering with witnesses during depositions, to allegations that prosecutors withheld evidence, bullied a witness and engaged in selective prosecution of a mother whose son was shot and killed by police.—
Brittany Wallman,
Miami Herald,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Paul then mauled Schulz, who was saved by AJ Styles.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes,
10 Mar. 2025
-
Read Next Texas 91-year-old fatally mauled by her son’s dogs.—
Mitchell Willetts,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Man charged after crash that killed 5 A man was charged Friday with intoxication manslaughter after five people were killed and several injured in a late-night wreck in Austin, Texas, that involved more than a dozen vehicles on Interstate 35, authorities said.—
Compiled by Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports,
arkansasonline.com,
15 Mar. 2025
-
Officials in Arkansas said Saturday morning that three people died in Independence County and 29 others were injured across eight counties as storms passed through the state overnight.—
Bruce Shipkowski,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Gunmen ambushed a Syrian police patrol in a coastal town Thursday, leaving at least 13 security members and 3 civilians dead and many others wounded, a monitoring group and a local official said.—
Compiled by Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports,
arkansasonline.com,
7 Mar. 2025
-
Forbes is protected by reCAPTCHA, and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. 1943 – The Battle of the Bismarck Sea A major air-sea battle during World War II, in which U.S. and Australian forces ambushed and decimated a Japanese convoy attempting to reinforce New Guinea.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes,
2 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Maltreat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maltreat. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share