1
as in abused
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in attacked
to abuse physically
adopted a sadly mishandled puppy from the pound
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in mismanaged
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
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Recent Examples of mishandled
Richardson said Bjornstad seeks both financial compensation and a public acknowledgment that the university mishandled his situation.
—
Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Dylan Chambost’s long ball-ahead was mishandled by defender Olwethu Makhanya.
—ABC News, 25 Apr. 2026
Forensic scientist Brent Turvey, who worked as a crime scene analysis expert for Kohberger’s defense team, alleges that police mishandled the knife sheath found inside the King Road house where four University of Idaho students were fatally stabbed in November 2022.
—Kevin Fixler
april 23, Idaho Statesman, 23 Apr. 2026
The move follows a complaint a family filed in 2024 alleging that Irene Carlota Raygoza, owner of Del Valle Professional Services, mishandled their immigration case.
—Jason Green, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026
Though city leaders agreed the street designation would be a proper way to honor Walton’s legacy, Councilmember Laura Lothian said the idea was mishandled when it was introduced without including Harris.
—Hannah Elsmore, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
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
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
The Supreme Court should grant enough time to do that analysis — and everyone involved in this case had better pray that the Texas lab doesn’t determine that the Deerfield Beach lab mishandled the sample to the point where no results are obtainable.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2026
Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Dylan Chambost’s long ball-ahead was mishandled by defender Olwethu Makhanya.
—ABC News, 25 Apr. 2026
Forensic scientist Brent Turvey, who worked as a crime scene analysis expert for Kohberger’s defense team, alleges that police mishandled the knife sheath found inside the King Road house where four University of Idaho students were fatally stabbed in November 2022.
—Kevin Fixler
april 23, Idaho Statesman, 23 Apr. 2026
The move follows a complaint a family filed in 2024 alleging that Irene Carlota Raygoza, owner of Del Valle Professional Services, mishandled their immigration case.
—Jason Green, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026
Though city leaders agreed the street designation would be a proper way to honor Walton’s legacy, Councilmember Laura Lothian said the idea was mishandled when it was introduced without including Harris.
—Hannah Elsmore, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
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
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
The Supreme Court should grant enough time to do that analysis — and everyone involved in this case had better pray that the Texas lab doesn’t determine that the Deerfield Beach lab mishandled the sample to the point where no results are obtainable.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mishandled
Verb
-
Jackson and his estate have denied that the pop star abused children.—
Samantha Masunaga,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The mothers of the victims said Chasing Horse betrayed their trust and abused sacred traditions.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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When the newlyweds arrive home, they are attacked by Naz and his henchman (played by Matt Willig).—
Allison DeGrushe,
StyleCaster,
27 Apr. 2026
-
On Friday, April 24, cattle breeder Santiago Barrero San Román was attacked by the bull at the San Marcos Festival in the remote southern Spanish town of Beas de Segura, according to El País, ABC and La Razón.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Boerkircher, playing at Nebraska, bullied Hunter for more than 15 yards before Hunter ripped off his helmet.—
Mark Long,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Lewis had previously bullied King and took advantage of his kind nature and limited mental capabilities, King’s relatives wrote in a GoFundMe post.—
Emerson Clarridge,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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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
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The $100 million price tag attached to the legal action is to make sure the city takes Brown’s allegations seriously — and ensure no one else is manhandled by the police without cause, Brown’s attorney Derek Sells of the Cochran Firm said.—
Sheetal Banchariya,
New York Daily News,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But the war has damaged that argument.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Oil infrastructure in the Middle East has been damaged or disrupted in the Iran war.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That says a lot about Michael rescuing other people who felt that they were being abused, mistreated.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
26 Apr. 2026
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Advocates say the family is worried that if they're returned to Egypt, they'll be labeled as terrorists and be targeted by the Egyptian government and mistreated.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Most occur as the closing credits roll, whether pretending to be viciously mauled by a bear or, even more unnervingly, clearly superimposing his face onto the body of a performing cellist.—
Jon O'Brien,
IndieWire,
22 Apr. 2026
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Not sure ringing bells is going to do much to stop a person from getting mauled.—
David Hookstead OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The move follows arguments from Maduro’s defense team, led by attorney Barry Pollack, that restrictions on payments violated the Sixth Amendment right to counsel by preventing him from choosing his legal representation.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The parents sued the school board and district officials in 2021, alleging that their rights to make decisions about the care and upbringing of their children were violated.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mishandled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mishandled. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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