as in mismanagement
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1
as in abusing
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
2
as in manhandling
to abuse physically
adopted a sadly mishandled puppy from the pound
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in damaging
to manage badly
we took over as soon as we realized that the fill-in had been mishandling the situation
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Recent Examples of mishandling
Amancai Biraben, Daily News, 4 May 2026
After several investigations drew attention to the mishandling of anatomical donations, lawmakers were alarmed at the lack of regulations governing body donation – and the inability of state officials to hold some companies to existing rules.
—Dug Begley, Houston Chronicle, 4 May 2026
On Facebook, the mother of the Poolville student-athlete in question said her son was approved for transfer with full eligibility, but the mishandling of the PAPF changed that.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 May 2026
House Democrats will introduce five articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday, accusing him of war crimes in connection with the Iran war, abuse of power and mishandling of the Department of Defense (DOD).
—Ryan Mancini, The Hill, 15 Apr. 2026
He was indicted on more than three dozen charges stemming from his alleged mishandling of sensitive government records, but the case ended after he was elected to a second term in November 2024.
—Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
Joseph States’ front-page News-Sun report last week detailed alleged mishandling of the youngster’s brutal history over a four-year period.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
The inquiry into Kent’s alleged mishandling of classified information reportedly predates his resignation, according to multiple people with knowledge of the matter, Semafor first reported.
—Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 19 Mar. 2026
The agency has faced lawsuits over alleged mishandling of government data and DOGE's access to sensitive personal information.
—ABC News, 11 Mar. 2026
Tran Nguyen, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
In August 2024, the two were ordered to pay nearly $1 billion to families who sued the couple for mishandling dead relatives' bodies.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
According to police, further investigation led to authorities finding several occasions when Kovarcik and Rahman were observed mishandling other children under their care.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 20 Apr. 2026
Read is suing Proctor for allegedly ignoring, mishandling, and manufacturing evidence while investigating her for the 2022 death of her boyfriend Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe.
—Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 13 Apr. 2026
The family of a stillborn baby has filed a lawsuit against a Pompano Beach funeral home, accusing the home of mishandling the baby’s unenbalmed remains and leaving him underneath the body of a 200-pound man.
—Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2026
The year before that, the FTC dinged WW International, formerly Weight Watchers, for illegally collecting and mishandling data from Kurbo, a weight loss app for children.
—Sasha Richie, Dallas Morning News, 30 Mar. 2026
Rourke admitted to mishandling his career in his Instagram video.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 2026
Documents released since December have included redaction errors, leaked victim identities, and ongoing complaints of mishandling by department officials.
—Alanna Durkin Richer, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Noun
The state Department of Insurance is seeking as much as $4 million in penalties from insurance giant State Farm due to its alleged mishandling of claims filed by survivors of the January 2025 wildfires that swept through the Los Angeles area.
—Amancai Biraben, Daily News, 4 May 2026
After several investigations drew attention to the mishandling of anatomical donations, lawmakers were alarmed at the lack of regulations governing body donation – and the inability of state officials to hold some companies to existing rules.
—Dug Begley, Houston Chronicle, 4 May 2026
On Facebook, the mother of the Poolville student-athlete in question said her son was approved for transfer with full eligibility, but the mishandling of the PAPF changed that.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 May 2026
House Democrats will introduce five articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday, accusing him of war crimes in connection with the Iran war, abuse of power and mishandling of the Department of Defense (DOD).
—Ryan Mancini, The Hill, 15 Apr. 2026
He was indicted on more than three dozen charges stemming from his alleged mishandling of sensitive government records, but the case ended after he was elected to a second term in November 2024.
—Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
Joseph States’ front-page News-Sun report last week detailed alleged mishandling of the youngster’s brutal history over a four-year period.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
The inquiry into Kent’s alleged mishandling of classified information reportedly predates his resignation, according to multiple people with knowledge of the matter, Semafor first reported.
—Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 19 Mar. 2026
The agency has faced lawsuits over alleged mishandling of government data and DOGE's access to sensitive personal information.
—ABC News, 11 Mar. 2026
Verb
Lara launched the investigation last June after survivors of the Palisades and Eaton fires said that State Farm was delaying and mishandling claims regarding damage to their homes and possible contamination from smoke.
—Tran Nguyen, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
In August 2024, the two were ordered to pay nearly $1 billion to families who sued the couple for mishandling dead relatives' bodies.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
According to police, further investigation led to authorities finding several occasions when Kovarcik and Rahman were observed mishandling other children under their care.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 20 Apr. 2026
Read is suing Proctor for allegedly ignoring, mishandling, and manufacturing evidence while investigating her for the 2022 death of her boyfriend Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe.
—Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 13 Apr. 2026
The family of a stillborn baby has filed a lawsuit against a Pompano Beach funeral home, accusing the home of mishandling the baby’s unenbalmed remains and leaving him underneath the body of a 200-pound man.
—Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2026
The year before that, the FTC dinged WW International, formerly Weight Watchers, for illegally collecting and mishandling data from Kurbo, a weight loss app for children.
—Sasha Richie, Dallas Morning News, 30 Mar. 2026
Rourke admitted to mishandling his career in his Instagram video.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 2026
Documents released since December have included redaction errors, leaked victim identities, and ongoing complaints of mishandling by department officials.
—Alanna Durkin Richer, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mishandling
Noun
-
The conservative Legislature in Nashville has clashed repeatedly with Memphis and accused its leaders of broad mismanagement.—
Matt Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
-
The owners of the now-shuttered West Suburban Medical Center faced off in court Friday over the hospital’s future, amid accusations of mismanagement and questionable fund transfers.—
Lisa Schencker,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
There have been several cases of clergy abusing children in Sri Lanka, but the latest arrest involves the most senior monk to be accused of such a crime.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
-
According to the frenetic video, this means abusing the office photocopier and covering yourself in Post-its.—
Jon O'Brien,
Vulture,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
But this year’s edition could be the best one yet, and the Wolverines will get a chance to prove that next week in Indianapolis after manhandling Tennessee 95-62 yesterday at the United Center to clinch a spot in the Final Four.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The Illini literally soaked in the celebration Thursday night after manhandling hometown favorite Houston to advance to the Elite 8 for the second time in three years.—
Ryan Baker,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Mothballs have been used in one form or another since the 1800s, primarily as a means to prevent insects and rodents from damaging clothes.—
Samantha Johnson,
Martha Stewart,
9 May 2026
-
The robot pledged to respect and follow humans, refrain from damaging property or other robots, abstain from deceptive behavior and save energy by not overcharging.—
Brittany Miller,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Alessio is a sharp critic of both the misuse of reserves and the term-limit gambit.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
But a confidential internal audit later seemed to suggest body camera misuse was more widespread, finding similar violations among patrol officers in three other divisions, including 77th Street.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Baldwin will play the mayor of the town and Rose, who founded anti-cyber-bullying platform Babes Against Bullying, his daughter.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
8 May 2026
-
Scott Rudin, who was the subject of allegations of bullying that provoked an industry reckoning on abusive workplace behavior in 2021, is a producer on the revival, which has become one of the unmissable events of the season.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Fitz also has some stiff competition in the attacking midfield.—
Andy Greder,
Twin Cities,
7 May 2026
-
Trump and his allies are attacking democracy itself, from the rights to protest and exist freely to the rights to fair jobs and livable wages.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
According to the arrest documents, McDaniel was detained in Monticello after officials reportedly received a child abuse complaint.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
10 May 2026
-
Aghamiri was sanctioned by the United States and United Kingdom in 2023 over human rights abuses linked to the crackdown on protests in Iran.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
10 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mishandling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mishandling. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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