maltreat

maltreat

verb

Definition of MALTREAT

1

to inflict physical or emotional harm upon <emotionally maltreated and neglected for years by her husband, she had long ago resigned herself to a loveless marriage>

Synonyms brutalize, bully, ill-treat, ill-use, kick around, maltreat, manhandle, mess over [slang], mishandle, mistreat, misuse

Related Words molest, outrage, violate; harass, harm, hurt, injure, oppress, persecute, torment, torture; burn, sandbag, victimize, wrong; beat (up), mess (up), rough (up), work (over)

Near Antonyms care (for), cherish, foster, nurture; baby, cater (to), coddle, favor, gratify, humor, indulge, mollycoddle, pamper, spoil

2

to abuse physically <if you maltreat the puppy, we will take it away immediately>

Synonyms maltreat, maul, mishandle, rough (up)

Related Words abuse, ill-treat, ill-use, mistreat, misuse; roughhouse, wrestle; bash, batter, beat, buffet, drub, lambaste (or lambast), lick, pommel, pound, pummel, slap, thrash; harm, hurt, injure, wound; oppress, persecute, wrong; ambush, assail, attack; clobber, fight, gang up (on), hit, jump, knock; torment, torture

Near Antonyms caress, fondle, pet; coddle, mollycoddle, pamper; care (for), foster, nurture