MALTREATING Synonyms: 75 Similar and Opposite Words

maltreating

verb

present participle of maltreat

as in abusing

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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as in attacking

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for maltreating

Verb

A day after the website went live on July 22, Gupta says people called him from unknown numbers, verbally abusing him and threatening him with violence.

— Omkar Khandekar, NPR, 2 Sep. 2026
The backlash intensified after reports of immigration authorities accessing Flock data, officers abusing the network to stalk women, and misreads that led to innocent people held at gunpoint.

— Christopher Cann, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of abusing

Verb

The consequence is really mechanical attacking that surprises nobody and desperately needs a rogue element.

— Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
The baby has been with the couple since birth, and Uthmeier’s office is not attacking their fitness as parents, Jay said.

— Romy Ellenbogen Herald, Miami Herald, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of attacking

Verb

Among Jackson, Flowers picking apart the Colts’ secondary and Henry bullying anyone in blue for three rushing touchdowns, poor Lou Anarumo, the Colts’ defensive coordinator, could not get out of Week 1 without feeling his seat simmering.

— Candace Buckner, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Skjonsberg offered no examples to support the bullying allegation.

— Joshua Haiar, States Newsroom, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of bullying

Verb

Ashley Delaney of Polk City, who has served on the district's board since 2024, was charged in May with misdemeanor assault for allegedly manhandling the student.

— William Morris, Des Moines Register, 14 Aug. 2026
But this year’s edition could be the best one yet, and the Wolverines will get a chance to prove that next week in Indianapolis after manhandling Tennessee 95-62 yesterday at the United Center to clinch a spot in the Final Four.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026

Definition of manhandling

Verb

While the left guard competition remains open, Jones has been on the first string for over a week since replacing Connor Colby, and Jones stood out with an aggressive, mauling nature against the Titans.

— Cam Inman, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026
Gunther slowed the match down, mauling Aldis and sending him flying into the corner.

— Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of mauling

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maltreated

maltreating

maltreatment

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“Maltreating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maltreating. Accessed 18 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of maltreating

verb

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