1
as in to abuse
to abuse physically
charges that the police manhandled peaceful protesters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Lee had been caught on video back in 2017 shouting at a woman who was reportedly his girlfriend, manhandling her and calling her names, in a confrontation allegedly broken up by a teammate.
—
Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 10 Mar. 2026
Still, Garcia, 27, was able to manhandle Barrios most of the night to claim Barrios’ WBC welterweight belt, his first title.
—John Whisler, San Antonio Express-News, 22 Feb. 2026
Social media served up a daily video deluge of heavily armed agents randomly manhandling dark-skinned people.
—Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
The Patriots’ offense can certainly hang, put points on the board and perhaps make this game competitive, but after watching Seattle manhandle San Francisco and then win an overtime shootout against the Rams, my confidence leans far more toward Macdonald’s group.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for manhandle
Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 10 Mar. 2026
Still, Garcia, 27, was able to manhandle Barrios most of the night to claim Barrios’ WBC welterweight belt, his first title.
—John Whisler, San Antonio Express-News, 22 Feb. 2026
Social media served up a daily video deluge of heavily armed agents randomly manhandling dark-skinned people.
—Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
The Patriots’ offense can certainly hang, put points on the board and perhaps make this game competitive, but after watching Seattle manhandle San Francisco and then win an overtime shootout against the Rams, my confidence leans far more toward Macdonald’s group.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for manhandle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manhandle
Verb
-
In his Easter homily, the pope singled out those who wage war, abuse the weak and prioritize profits.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Administrator Crystal Ruth switches on dozens of heat lamps that radiate a yellow hue to warm at least 80 disabled, abandoned or formerly abused animals that call the rescue home.—
Julian Camejo,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
When these kids finally managed to attend classes, they were beaten and bullied by classmates.—
Daniel Felsenthal,
Pitchfork,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Hernandez was emphatic that nobody in her family bullied Rabell, who prior to landing at Hernandez’s home had been a client of DCF’s Adult Protective Services program.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The ban was previously enacted in 2009 after a resident was mauled by a pitbull.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The film features a scene in which Luke Skywalker is savagely mauled by the yetilike Wampa.—
Sanat Pai Raikar,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Since his release, Hernandez has claimed he was severely mistreated at the maximum security detention center.—
Carlos De Loera,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
-
People created memes and videos mocking Roan for mistreating children.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The court should grant enough time to do that analysis — and everyone involved should hope that the Texas lab does not determine that the Deerfield Beach lab mishandled the sample to the point where no results are obtainable.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Apr. 2026
-
And Disney can still mishandle a specific dispute with that family in Florida.—
Kelsey Maurine Brickl,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
However, human rights groups say migrants are being brutalized and pushed back illegally at EU borders, while legal protections are increasingly being hollowed out.—
Sam McNeil,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Bakri is more brittle in Farah Nabulsi’s The Teacher as Basem, a Palestinian teacher in the West Bank whose support for insurgents grows after his own son dies in prison and as Israeli settlers brutalize his neighborhood.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The woman told officers that at some point, Morehead came back and brutally attacked her, including punching her in the face and stomach and dragging her back inside.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Two minutes later, Towns attacked Onyeka Okongwu off the dribble for a dunk.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
No people were injured, but a resident's cat died in the fire.—
Jose Fabian,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
They were normally injured, inferior and underachieving.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Manhandle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manhandle. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
