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
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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
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Recent Examples of maltreat
There are bosses in companies that maltreat their workers globally.
—
Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
Many maltreating parents struggle with chronic conditions that start well before their first child and will impede their capacity to provide safe and appropriate care indefinitely.
—Sarah A. Font, Chicago Tribune, 23 Apr. 2026
Canadian researchers found that older adults who were maltreated as children may face a significantly higher risk of cancer decades later.
—Rob Williams, EverydayHealth.com, 22 Apr. 2026
The Adams County Health and Human Services Department’s initial assessment indicated that the infant was maltreated, though a final autopsy report is still pending, TMZ reported.
—Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 9 Mar. 2026
Social media can’t replace offline resources for children who are being maltreated.
—Laura Schwab Reese, The Conversation, 2 Sep. 2025
One to One concert the duo organized as a response to Geraldo Rivera’s truly shocking exposé of the Willowbrook institution, where children with disabilities were horrifically maltreated and abused.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 29 Apr. 2025
Even the first stage of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine - on the pretext of protecting Russian speakers being maltreated - parallels Hitler’s sending shock troops into Czechoslovakia to purportedly safeguard German speakers along the Czech borderlands.
—Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes, 18 Dec. 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
Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
Many maltreating parents struggle with chronic conditions that start well before their first child and will impede their capacity to provide safe and appropriate care indefinitely.
—Sarah A. Font, Chicago Tribune, 23 Apr. 2026
Canadian researchers found that older adults who were maltreated as children may face a significantly higher risk of cancer decades later.
—Rob Williams, EverydayHealth.com, 22 Apr. 2026
The Adams County Health and Human Services Department’s initial assessment indicated that the infant was maltreated, though a final autopsy report is still pending, TMZ reported.
—Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 9 Mar. 2026
Social media can’t replace offline resources for children who are being maltreated.
—Laura Schwab Reese, The Conversation, 2 Sep. 2025
One to One concert the duo organized as a response to Geraldo Rivera’s truly shocking exposé of the Willowbrook institution, where children with disabilities were horrifically maltreated and abused.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 29 Apr. 2025
Even the first stage of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine - on the pretext of protecting Russian speakers being maltreated - parallels Hitler’s sending shock troops into Czechoslovakia to purportedly safeguard German speakers along the Czech borderlands.
—Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes, 18 Dec. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for maltreat
Verb
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Moreover, the states often abused their authority, both over their own citizens and with regard to each other.—
Jordan Cash,
The Conversation,
8 June 2026
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And did the court abuse its discretion by imposing the 60-year minimum?—
Tom Olsen,
Twin Cities,
8 June 2026
Verb
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Just attacking everything with strikes.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
11 June 2026
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Police in the northwest Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights have released a sketch of a man accused of attacking and choking a woman this past weekend.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
Verb
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His tenure at Texas Tech came to a messy and uncomfortable end when he was fired for cause after being accused of mistreating a player with a concussion.—
Ralph D. Russo,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
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The Chinese have been broug ht here to work on railroads, to work on farms and they were mistreated.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
1 June 2026
Verb
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During this stretch, the Colts will face three AFC opponents, including the Steelers, who manhandled them last year and forced Jones to commit a career-high five turnovers in a loss.—
James Boyd,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
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Those ramped up after Ottawa was completely manhandled by the Canes, and never held the lead at any point in the series.—
Matt Reigle OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Rudin relinquished his Broadway producing duties in 2021 following allegations of bullying but returned last season with a transfer of Little Bear Ridge Road, also starring Metcalf.—
Vulture Editors,
Vulture,
8 June 2026
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Movies like Mean Girls, Wonder, and The Karate Kid offer powerful ways to help kids recognize bullying and build empathy.—
Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal,
Parents,
5 June 2026
Verb
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Throw in the signing of dual threat quarterback Malik Willis with the drafting of mauling offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor as well as Will Kacmarek, arguably the best blocking tight end of the 2026 class, and all signs point to the Dolphins having an elite rushing attack for quite some time.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
10 June 2026
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Continue reading … TERROR NEXT DOOR — Pit bulls mauled woman to death after 14 calls to police about owner, sheriff says.—
,
FOXNews.com,
8 June 2026
Verb
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Tovar ambushed Kilian’s first offering, pulling a two-run homer over the left-field fence to hand the Giants their fourth straight loss.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
30 May 2026
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Betts ambushed a belt-high four-seamer into the first row of seats in the left-center bleachers.—
Katie Woo,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
Verb
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The fatal bear encounter at Glacier National Park occurred in the same week that two hikers were injured in a bear attack at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, according to the park service.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
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The boy who was injured was treated at a hospital and released the same day, authorities said.—
Caelyn Pender,
Mercury News,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Maltreat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maltreat. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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