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1
as in bullied
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in attacked
to abuse physically
if you maltreat the puppy, we will take it away immediately
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of maltreated
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
Verb
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for maltreated
Adjective
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The annual event supports the rescue, rehabilitation and care of abused and neglected exotic animals and offers a behind-the-scenes look at the sanctuary.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 May 2026
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The next day, at 1:10 p.m., Nunez said after checking her records, the foster mother returned with a doctor’s note and prescription from the SPARK Clinic — a health center established to treat abused children in the child welfare system — for some kind of cream.—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
Mercury News,
7 May 2026
Verb
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With Ethan Hawke's newbie simmering against the go-for-broke finesse of Denzel Washington's very bad, no-good officer, Training Day revels in tension, with washes of blue and green augmenting scenes where Hawke is bullied into getting high.—
Eric Farwell,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 June 2026
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In 2019, Teresa and Gia shared that then-9-year-old Audriana was bullied at school because of her father.—
Jamie Ballard,
PEOPLE,
12 June 2026
Verb
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Three people were killed and 20 more people were attacked by bears across at least nine prefectures between April and June 2, according to public broadcaster NHK.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
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During the Gaza war, the Houthis attacked commercial shipping in the Red Sea — including ships with no link to Israel — to pressure Israel into lifting its blockade on the enclave.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
Verb
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During similar unrest last year, several officers were abducted and tortured after being taken captive.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 June 2026
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Armand tortured and planned to drain Daniel, but Louis stepped in to save him.—
Tiffany Kelly,
Entertainment Weekly,
3 June 2026
Verb
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Australia’s other fatal shark attack this year occurred in January, when a 12-year-old boy died in a hospital days after he was mauled by a bull shark in Sydney Harbor.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 June 2026
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In January, a 12-year-old boy died after being mauled by a bull shark in Sydney Harbor.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
13 June 2026
Verb
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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
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LaFaive felt that Goodman had been fundamentally mistreated, particularly in the wake of a defining tragedy.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
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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He feels emotionally ambushed, and what plays out is as if Marriage Story were an absolute chucklefest, as Lestat gets increasingly worked up and jealous over Louis’s relationships with other men.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
15 June 2026
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On June 27, 2016, a man was ambushed when his vehicle came to a stop in a residential neighborhood in San Jose.—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Maltreated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maltreated. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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