MANHANDLE Synonyms: 74 Similar and Opposite Words

manhandle

verb

ˈman-ˌhan-dᵊl

Definition of manhandle

as in to abuse

to abuse physically charges that the police manhandled peaceful protesters

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to bully

to inflict physical or emotional harm upon if you see anyone manhandling a child, you should call the authorities

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 manhandle Valley View won its first game but was manhandled by Searcy last week. — Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2026 The Los Angeles Police Department released a video that shows officers at the Valley jail manhandle an uncooperative inmate who died after he was left handcuffed with a bag over his head while laying prone on the bunk in his cell. — Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026 New England lost in demoralizing fashion to the Seahawks last February, 29-13, as the Seattle defense manhandled the Patriots’ offense. — Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 20 Aug. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for manhandle

Recent Examples of Synonyms for manhandle

Verb

Berry’s ex-husband Olivier Martinez accused the actor of physically abusing their 12-year-old son last month.

— Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Blanchard has said her mother abused her for years and forced her to fake serious illnesses.

— Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of abuse

Verb

Grande had been the subject of a wave of speculation, concern and bullying regarding her physical appearance following images of the actress-singer going viral in late July.

— James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026
But Gresko, who alleges that some of her older children had also experienced bullying at the school, says the school never contacted her.

— Brian Brant, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of bully

Verb

At the time, Guilfoyle was an assistant DA in San Francisco prosecuting a high-profile dog-mauling case and making the rounds on cable news.

— Joe Hagan, Vanity Fair, 30 Sep. 2026
When his grandfather was mauled by a leopard caught in a trap set for an impala, however, Mgesi began to feel that the dangers of hunting wildlife outweighed its benefits for humans.

— Juliet Kinsman, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of maul

Verb

Ever since these rideshare companies began in the early 2010s, they have been scrutinized for underpaying and mistreating drivers.

— Cyrus Farivar, ArsTechnica, 2 Oct. 2026
Ultimately, the show attempts to draw a parallel between Lizzie Borden and Aileen Wuornos, portraying them as two women abused and mistreated by society who dared to fight back.

— Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of mistreat

Verb

Allegations of abuse, inmates being brutalized by jailers, and dire conditions have plagued the facility for years, leading some county leaders, former sheriffs and civil rights advocates to call for the jail to be closed.

— James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Because they’ve been brutalized by the same machinery of repression.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of brutalize

Verb

The recent success of a late-stage mRNA cancer vaccine, showing the drug stopped the return of melanoma, has boosted hopes that the approach can be successfully harnessed to attack other cancers.

— Allison DeAngelis, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026
In Ohio, Husted has been repeatedly attacked for his role in attracting data centers to Ohio as lieutenant governor.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of attack

Verb

Not only does Jeong-yo have an emotional connection to his music performance that Pi-o struggles to find himself, but Pi-o has injured his pinky in the leadup to the final performance, thanks to his obsessive practicing.

— Kayti Burt, Time, 6 Oct. 2026
Someone else got stabbed, and two other people were allegedly injured.

— Bethy Squires, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of injure

Browse Nearby Words

mangy

manhandle

manhandled

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Style

“Manhandle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manhandle. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of manhandle

verb

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