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maltreat

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of maltreat

1 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 of maltreat

abuse, brutalize, bully, ill-treat, ill-use, kick around, manhandle, mess over [slang], mishandle, mistreat, misuse
Words Related to maltreat

molest, outrage, violate

harass, harm, hurt, injure, oppress, persecute, torment, torture

burn, sandbag, victimize, wrong

beat (up), mess (up), rough (up), work (over)
Phrases Synonymous with maltreat

take apart
Near Antonyms of maltreat

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 of maltreat

manhandle, maul, mishandle, rough (up)
Words Related to maltreat

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 of maltreat

caress, fondle, pet

coddle, mollycoddle, pamper

care (for), foster, nurture

Learn More about maltreat

  1. See words that rhyme with maltreat Dictionary: Definition of maltreat Spanish Central: Translation of maltreat Nglish: Translation of maltreat for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of maltreat for Arabic speakers

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