maltreated 1 of 2

adjective

as in abused

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maltreated

2 of 2

verb

past tense of maltreat
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

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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

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 maltreated
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
  1. abused
  2. bullied
  3. attacked
  4. tortured
  5. mauled
  6. mistreated
  7. manhandled
  8. ambushed
Adjective
  • At the end of the poem, Odysseus transforms from an abused guest to a murderous host, neither of which is ideal.
    — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 20 July 2026
  • Sara O’Meara is a cofounder and CEO of Childhelp, a nonprofit dedicated to serving the needs of abused, neglected and at-risk children.
    — Sara O'Meara, Baltimore Sun, 26 June 2026
Definition of abused
Verb
  • For over two years, a 16-year-old transgender girl says she was bullied, excluded and discriminated against by her teammates and coaches at the Capital Crew youth rowing program housed at the Sacramento State Aquatic Center.
    — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Airing on March 18, 1975, the episode was focused on the Evans family’s young son Michael Evans (Ralph Carter), who was being bullied at school for his lunch money by classmate Eddie (Doug Grant).
    — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of bullied
Verb
  • And the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) said two of its vessels were attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
    — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Ngbape, however, said his surveillance teams in Nizi have not been attacked.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of attacked
Verb
  • He was brutally tortured before being assigned his painting duties.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Other commissions include a monument to honor Native voices, a sculpture of gospel singer and Civil Rights activist Mahalia Jackson, and a site to recognize the survivors who were tortured by the Chicago Police Department during the 1970s-1990s.
    — Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of tortured
Verb
  • Few fishing experiences rival the rush of easing close to hundreds of seabirds swooping and diving on baitfish being herded and mauled by a school of slashing striped bass.
    — Ken Perrotte, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The two dogs chased the emu, named Barb, down Ravine Street on July 21 and mauled the 160-pound, 6-foot-tall animal to death.
    — Jennifer Borrasso, CBS News, 30 July 2026
Definition of mauled
Verb
  • Human rights organizations have released multiple reports alleging Palestinian prisoners are mistreated, tortured and wrongfully detained in Israeli jails.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Detectives said Beemer claimed his mother had mistreated him for years, including molesting him.
    — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026
Definition of mistreated
Verb
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of manhandled
Verb
  • While there was a period of harmony between the two coasts, that imploded after Shakur was ambushed at a Times Square recording studio in November 1994.
    — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 9 Aug. 2026
  • On the day Tran was ambushed, the vehicle circled the area 16 times before the shooting, according to investigators.
    — Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of ambushed

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Cite this Entry

“Maltreated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maltreated. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on maltreated

Nglish: Translation of maltreated for Spanish Speakers

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