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
Because he was overdrafted and the 2025 quarterback situation was mishandled, Gabriel just isn’t in a good place with the Browns.
—
Zac Jackson, New York Times, 5 May 2026
This led to the number of firefighters being reduced, which diminished their preparedness and mishandled emergency responses to large-scale emergencies related to ferocious fire.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 4 May 2026
Authorities also mishandled the weapon after it was collected as evidence, further weakening the prosecution's case.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 2 May 2026
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
Zac Jackson, New York Times, 5 May 2026
This led to the number of firefighters being reduced, which diminished their preparedness and mishandled emergency responses to large-scale emergencies related to ferocious fire.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 4 May 2026
Authorities also mishandled the weapon after it was collected as evidence, further weakening the prosecution's case.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 2 May 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mishandled
Verb
-
Vinicius Jr had alleged that Prestianni had racially abused him, which Prestianni denied on social media.—
Dan Sheldon,
New York Times,
6 May 2026
-
During opening statements in her trial on Tuesday, May 5, prosecutors said Lauren Maloberti abused and neglected the boy and failed to seek prompt medical treatment as his condition deteriorated, according to TribLive and WTAE.—
Staff Author,
PEOPLE,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Hours earlier, a vessel near the strait reported being attacked by several small boats.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
4 May 2026
-
Iran warned Monday that any vessel attempting to transit the waterway would be attacked.—
May 4,
CBS News,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
To be a kid, though, was to be bullied.—
Chang-rae Lee,
New Yorker,
3 May 2026
-
The Wolves bullied Denver with offensive rebounds throughout the night, even when bruising backup center Jonas Valanciunas was on the floor.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
1 May 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
-
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
-
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
-
That says a lot about Michael rescuing other people who felt that they were being abused, mistreated.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
26 Apr. 2026
-
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
-
The arrangement appeared to be working out well until that morning, when less than an hour after Loyalty's arrival, Miller called 911 to report that the boy had been mauled by her two Great Dane/Mastiff mixes.—
Chris Spargo,
PEOPLE,
27 Apr. 2026
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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
Verb
-
Although these driverless taxis were susceptible to citations from local law enforcement, laxity in autonomous vehicle regulations left California law enforcement puzzled about how to address vehicles that violated the state's road laws.—
Noe Padilla,
USA Today,
4 May 2026
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The trial marks the second phase of New Mexico’s lawsuit after a jury in March found Meta violated the state’s consumer protection law by misrepresenting the safety of Facebook and Instagram for young users and ordered the company to pay $375 million in damages.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mishandled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mishandled. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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