MISHANDLE Synonyms: 91 Similar and Opposite Words

mishandle

verb

(ˌ)mis-ˈhan-dᵊl

Definition of mishandle

as in to abuse

to inflict physical or emotional harm upon having been shuffled from foster home to foster home, the orphaned girl felt she had been mishandled by an uncaring society

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to manhandle

to abuse physically adopted a sadly mishandled puppy from the pound

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to mismanage

to manage badly we took over as soon as we realized that the fill-in had been mishandling the situation

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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 mishandle According to The Athletic, attorney Rob Carey is representing his family and said the university mishandled the investigation into his medical emergency. — Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026 Over his two-hour closing, Sanft claimed that the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department mishandled the search for the Cadillac, allowed unauthorized people to access the case file, and lost police reports during a technology upgrade. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 31 Aug. 2026 Merrill walked and Bogaerts singled to start the fifth inning, and the Padres loaded the bases when Mateo mishandled Austin Hays’ grounder to second. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026 The punter mishandled the snap, and the Seminoles get the ball at Lake Howell’s 14 yard line. — Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mishandle

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mishandle

Verb

The scandal led to Paterno’s firing, and the university paid more than $100 million to people who said they were abused by Sandusky.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026
Some critics report being verbally abused, doxxed, and even threatened with rape and death by BJP supporters.

— Omkar Khandekar, NPR, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of abuse

Verb

After getting physically manhandled far too often last year, Colorado was the more physical team against a Yellow Jackets program that prides itself on toughness.

— Seth Emerson, New York Times, 4 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, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of manhandle

Verb

Founders often mismanage their crucial first sales hire, mistakenly seeking candidates suited for large corporations.

— Kate Morgan, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Target has been criticized for mismanaging inventory, under-investing in stores and falling behind on the trendy, eye-catching merchandise the retailer built its name on.

— Gabrielle Fonrouge, CNBC, 22 June 2026

Definition of mismanage

Verb

Even more consequentially, some jihadi groups turned Muslim publics against them by mistreating Muslim civilians.

— Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2026
The other has been dismissed or mistreated in a clinic before, and reads the same sentence as confirmation that they were not told the whole story the first time.

— Aleeza Gerstein, The Conversation, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of mistreat

Verb

Lug a bulky, awkward, bear-proof canister to store your food so you don’t get mauled.

— Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
And statistically, your chances of getting jumped and mauled by a bear are so low compared to any other real danger in the backcountry.

— Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of maul

Verb

Yes, Stark has painted, or, more accurately, anodized, powder-coated, and otherwise bullied into submission just about everything to black.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 16 Sep. 2026
Newcastle were not only beaten, but they were also bullied and battered into submission — physically overpowered and outplayed in every facet.

— Chris Waugh, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of bully

Verb

Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone leaders say the pastor’s words attack their identity and echo past religious assimilation, spurring weekly demonstrations and new rules requiring outside ministries to seek tribal approval.

— Savannah Peters, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026
To beat the odds, founders need to plan for a long-term goal that is relevant and achievable, then attack it in a series of sprints that enable incremental growth.

— Deann Evans, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of attack

Browse Nearby Words

misguiding

mishandle

mishandled

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“Mishandle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mishandle. Accessed 18 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of mishandle

verb

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