1
as in abused
to abuse physically
charges that the police manhandled peaceful protesters
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bullied
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 manhandled
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
Stella was torn between getting it right and being manhandled by Meredith.
—Literary Hub, 13 Mar. 2026
Making the scene even more a spectacle was the fact that Yam Yam was literally being manhandled and dragged out of the castle while doing so.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Jan. 2026
After his holstered gun was discovered under his coat and removed while he was being manhandled, he was executed on the spot by one of the officers despite lying unarmed and defenseless on the ground.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 27 Jan. 2026
Before his team manhandled Miami, Vrabel gave voice to this during a pregame radio interview when answering if the Patriots might rest starters in order to preserve their health for the playoffs.
—Andrew Callahan, Hartford Courant, 5 Jan. 2026
Coogan’s improbable honor was a beautiful bit of symbolism that recognized the manner in which these hard-nosed Hoosiers physically manhandled the Crimson Tide to reach the College Football Playoff semifinals with their 38-3 victory Thursday.
—Greg Beacham, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
The defensive interior was manhandled for most of the season, and in each of their three regular-season losses, the Trojans were trampled on the ground.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2026
The Vikings tried to put linebacker Blake Cashman on the line of scrimmage for a blitz look on that play, and Booker completely manhandled him.
—Derrik Klassen, New York Times, 17 Dec. 2025
Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
Stella was torn between getting it right and being manhandled by Meredith.
—Literary Hub, 13 Mar. 2026
Making the scene even more a spectacle was the fact that Yam Yam was literally being manhandled and dragged out of the castle while doing so.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Jan. 2026
After his holstered gun was discovered under his coat and removed while he was being manhandled, he was executed on the spot by one of the officers despite lying unarmed and defenseless on the ground.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 27 Jan. 2026
Before his team manhandled Miami, Vrabel gave voice to this during a pregame radio interview when answering if the Patriots might rest starters in order to preserve their health for the playoffs.
—Andrew Callahan, Hartford Courant, 5 Jan. 2026
Coogan’s improbable honor was a beautiful bit of symbolism that recognized the manner in which these hard-nosed Hoosiers physically manhandled the Crimson Tide to reach the College Football Playoff semifinals with their 38-3 victory Thursday.
—Greg Beacham, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
The defensive interior was manhandled for most of the season, and in each of their three regular-season losses, the Trojans were trampled on the ground.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2026
The Vikings tried to put linebacker Blake Cashman on the line of scrimmage for a blitz look on that play, and Booker completely manhandled him.
—Derrik Klassen, New York Times, 17 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manhandled
Verb
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The officer interviewed the brother separately, who also said he was not abused.—
Laura Trujillo,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
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Most importantly, people who are financially disadvantaged are more in danger of being abused at their jobs.—
Liza Lentini,
SPIN,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Their daughter was bullied by fake nude images at school.—
Bethany Bruner,
USA Today,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Family believes others may be involved Relatives say Marcus went to the home simply to visit a friend – and that he had been bullied and threatened in the days leading up to the shooting.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Police on Friday closed Kensington Gardens, a central London park visited by thousands of tourists and local residents every day, after a group that Israel has linked to Iran posted a video claiming Israel’s nearby London embassy was going to be attacked with drones carrying dangerous substances.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 Apr. 2026
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The rabbi of Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow, northwest London, which was attacked by arsonists over the weekend, took to social media on Sunday to show members of his congregation gathering in his home to pray.—
Lianne Kolirin,
CNN Money,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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He was severely injured after being shot down in 1967 over North Vietnam and was tortured during his time as a prisoner of war.—
Charles Selle,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
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According to the Times coverage of the incident and subsequent lawsuit, the scenes shown in the classroom included autopsies, decaying cadavers and live animals being butchered, mutilated and tortured.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The ban was previously enacted in 2009 after a resident was mauled by a pitbull.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
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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
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Then in Brookhaven, a homeless man was ambushed and shot several times while sleeping outside a shopping center on Peachtree Road.—
Landon Mion , Bill Melugin,
FOXNews.com,
15 Apr. 2026
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The Twins ambushed Crochet with four runs in the first inning, then knocked out Boston's ace lefty with a seven-run second.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Adams County Health and Human Services Department’s initial assessment indicated that the infant was maltreated, though a final autopsy report is still pending, TMZ reported.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
9 Mar. 2026
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Social media can’t replace offline resources for children who are being maltreated.—
Laura Schwab Reese,
The Conversation,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Boston initially got a gift when a Masataka Yoshida grounder to second was mishandled and then thrown away by Twins second baseman Luke Keaschall, allowing two runs to score, and Story followed that with his three-run bomb to left field.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
15 Apr. 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Manhandled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manhandled. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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