manhandle

verb

ˈman-ˌhan-dᵊl How to pronounce manhandle (audio)
Definition of manhandlenext
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

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 Then, the family says two others broke through a small window, manhandled their dogs and stole priceless mementos handed down through their family over generations, along with the cash. — Nicole Comstock, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2026 Orlando manhandled Charlotte so thoroughly and so early Friday night that the game was over by halftime, when the Magic had amassed an astonishing 31-point lead. — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 18 Apr. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for manhandle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manhandle
  1. abuse
  2. bully
  3. maul
  4. mistreat
  5. mishandle
  6. brutalize
  7. attack
  8. injure
Verb
  • The woman Morris was convicted of abusing, Cindy Clemishire, has filed a $1 million defamation suit against Morris, the church, former and current elders, and a former church employee in Dallas County.
    — Giles Hudson, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • One of them, a shorter, bearded man with a nose reddened and swollen from years of abusing liquor, gave a low whistle.
    — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026
Definition of abuse
Verb
  • There, Pinocchio witnesses James being bullied by his peers, and his vengeful instincts kick in.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 26 July 2026
  • Alison Arngrim Nellie Oleson, the daughter of the mercantile store owners who bullied Laura, was played by Alison Arngrim.
    — Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 26 July 2026
Definition of bully
Verb
  • Backstage, Jey Uso took out Sikoa, and Fatu and Jimmy Uso mauled LA Knight and Sikoa later in the night.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • Chris Brown was found liable by a Los Angeles jury on Tuesday for $13 million in the gruesome case of a dog that mauled and disfigured his housekeeper at his home in 2020.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 1 July 2026
Definition of maul
Verb
  • In June, Hilton returned to the Provo Canyon School to support two families who filed lawsuits alleging that their children were mistreated at the school.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 July 2026
  • This is not the only group of women who’ve been mistreated and not listened to.
    — Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of mistreat
Verb
  • Here was a brainy, confident bombshell who couldn’t be treated like a disposable plaything — a type of actor Hollywood has lusted for since those earlier black-and-white classics but usually mishandles.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026
  • Every interaction introduces new opportunities for sensitive information to be exposed, mishandled or misinterpreted.
    — Syed Ali, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of mishandle
Verb
  • Each competitor was giving it their all with brutalizing chops, tough suplexes and going above and beyond to try to win that championship.
    — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 15 July 2026
  • The same curriculum includes Prophet Muhammed’s history of brutalizing Christians and Jewish people — a framing that Muslim families and interfaith advocates found issue with in public comment.
    — Rachel Royster. Produced with AI assistance, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 July 2026
Definition of brutalize
Verb
  • Okot applied that advice by limiting unnecessary dribbles and attacking the basket more efficiently.
    — Micahya Costen, AJC.com, 28 July 2026
  • With attacking talent aplenty – including star man Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, Désiré Doué and Bradley Barcola – Zidane will have to figure out a way to find harmony among his forward options.
    — Thomas Schlachter, CNN Money, 28 July 2026
Definition of attack
Verb
  • More than 90 firefighters have been injured in Gironde, the prefecture said.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 28 July 2026
  • Cal Fire said two firefighters were injured while battling the blaze.
    — Jason Green, Mercury News, 28 July 2026
Definition of injure

Browse Nearby Words

mangy
manhandle
manhandled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Manhandle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manhandle. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of manhandle for Spanish Speakers

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