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 Garcia Martinez, who says his mother is in removal proceedings because Lozano mishandled her case, lives every day in fear that she will be deported. — ABC News, 29 June 2026 In late 2022, Live Nation and its subsidiary Ticketmaster faced widespread backlash after mishandling ticket sales for Taylor Swift’s 2022 ‘Eras’ tour. — Sydney Goh, CNBC, 27 June 2026 Its job is to educate the public, adopt regulations and investigate, audit and penalize businesses that mishandle personal information. — Harry Kazakian, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026 The lawsuit also accuses emergency responders and dispatchers of mishandling the aftermath by prioritizing treatment and transport of the deputy over the couple, who were more seriously injured, delaying critical medical care. — Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for mishandle

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mishandle

Verb

Some evidence of harms from testosterone stem from people who abuse the hormone, taking levels well above what would be used to bring a patient with hypogonadism into a normal range.

— Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 17 July 2026
The textbook catalogs the ways prosecutors can abuse their powers.

— Joaquin Sapien, ProPublica, 17 July 2026

Definition of abuse

Verb

During this stretch, the Colts will face three AFC opponents, including the Steelers, who manhandled them last year and forced Jones to commit a career-high five turnovers in a loss.

— James Boyd, New York Times, 15 May 2026
Those ramped up after Ottawa was completely manhandled by the Canes, and never held the lead at any point in the series.

— Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 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

After reporting Lopez missing last September, Lopez’s daughter told a detective that Yepez had been mistreating her mother at work, the police report said.

— James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
By 1790, half of the world's coffee was being grown in the French colony of Saint-Domingue, in what is today Haiti, Pendergrast says, where slaves were routinely mistreated, raped and murdered.

— James Doubek, NPR, 3 July 2026

Definition of mistreat

Verb

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
Florida officials have identified the woman who died after she was mauled by an alligator while swimming in a river with her boyfriend and best friend over the weekend, and 911 calls detail the desperate attempt to save her life.

— Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 1 July 2026

Definition of maul

Verb

Two weeks after being bullied off X by gangs of LIB truthers, German soccer fan Freddy, whose wholesome social media posts on American culture during his travels around the country early in the World Cup, has returned to the app.

— Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 July 2026
Children who are bullied may also experience back-to-school anxiety.

— Kimberly Zapata, Parents, 12 July 2026

Definition of bully

Verb

Spain’s front men are difficult to ignore Despite only one attacking return, Lamine Yamal ($10m) is still Spain’s most exciting fantasy option.

— Abdul Rehman, New York Times, 14 July 2026
The tourist who was attacked by a bison on Friday at Yellowstone National Park is recovering after being flung into the air.

— Zoe Cummings, Washington Post, 13 July 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 20 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of mishandle

verb

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