1
as in to abuse
to abuse physically
charges that the police manhandled peaceful protesters
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to bully
to inflict physical or emotional harm upon
if you see anyone manhandling a child, you should call the authorities
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of manhandle
Did something get squashed en route, then manhandled by Kennedy?
—
Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair, 16 Apr. 2026
Boston also struggled with its perimeter shooting (eight made 3-pointers on a season-low-tying 28 attempts) but manhandled the Raptors inside, setting a new franchise record for points in the paint (76) in the play-by-play era.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 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, 30 Mar. 2026
Stella was torn between getting it right and being manhandled by Meredith.
—Literary Hub, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for manhandle
Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair, 16 Apr. 2026
Boston also struggled with its perimeter shooting (eight made 3-pointers on a season-low-tying 28 attempts) but manhandled the Raptors inside, setting a new franchise record for points in the paint (76) in the play-by-play era.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 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, 30 Mar. 2026
Stella was torn between getting it right and being manhandled by Meredith.
—Literary Hub, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for manhandle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manhandle
Verb
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According to Variety and Puck, the film was originally set to dramatize Jackson being accused of abusing 13‑year‑old Jordan Chandler in 1993.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
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The lawsuit, filed in December, claims that the Litchfield Middle School failed to act on a complaint from the 1980s that Driscoll was allegedly abusing students before Fitterer and Bird were middle school students in the 1990s.—
Lori Riley,
Hartford Courant,
14 June 2026
Verb
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A little over a month later, another spell of freezing weather bullied its way into Central Florida and slammed the remaining citrus groves that had just started to recover.—
Martin E. Comas,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 June 2026
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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
Verb
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Another hiker survived a grizzly mauling on the popular Grinnell Glacier Trail just weeks later.—
Amber Harding OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
16 June 2026
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The singer, 37, was set to take the stand in the case brought against him by his housekeeper, who alleged one of Brown's dogs mauled her sister in 2020.—
Liza Esquibias,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
Verb
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Those scars created a man who was a distant father and equally remote with his band members at the peak, mistreating them with casual disdain until everything fell apart.—
Stuart Miller,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
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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
Verb
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In May, a Department of Insurance investigation accused State Farm of mishandling wildfire survivors’ claims, and sought penalties and corrective measures from the provider.—
Haley Parsley
June 10,
Sacbee.com,
10 June 2026
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Castle said victims are too often left with limited options when allegations are mishandled or ignored within the ranks.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
9 June 2026
Verb
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Family Photo The family had fled the Congo after Carine, an activist, was brutalized for speaking out against the ruling regime.—
Jim Axelrod,
CBS News,
31 May 2026
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The Original brutalized El Grande Americano II back inside the ring.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Verb
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Vance, asked by a reporter about the criticism from the Israeli government, singled out Israeli Cabinet officials who have attacked the deal, saying Netanyahu has not shared the same opposition in the vice president's conversations with him.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
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After the good Samaritan got him off the woman, witnesses say the man wandered to produce and began attacking a 16-year-old boy, but Garbe had followed him.—
Joy Benedict,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
Verb
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Police did not reveal the identities of the six on board or the condition of those injured.—
Diego Mendoza,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
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Two teachers were injured after an assault involving a student during dismissal at a Harford County elementary school on Tuesday.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Manhandle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manhandle. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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