Synonyms of mishandling

mishandling 1 of 2

noun

as in mismanagement

Related Words

• mismanagement
• misuse
• abuse
• misapplication
• mismanaging
• mistreatment
• maltreatment
• perversion
• misusage
• ill-treatment
• destruction
• wrecking
• misemployment
• misutilization
• spoiling
• damage
• ill-usage
• desecration
• debasement
• corruption
• profanation
• ruin
• prostitution

Dissimilar Words

• use
• application
• employment
• utilization

mishandling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of mishandle

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• abusing
• bullying
• mistreating
• misusing
• manhandling
• torturing
• brutalizing
• violating
• injuring
• taking apart
• maltreating
• hurting
• oppressing
• ill-treating
• ill-using
• messing over
• persecuting
• harassing
• kicking around
• molesting
• harming
• tormenting
• outraging
• working (over)
• victimizing
• wronging
• sandbagging
• beating (up)
• burning
• roughing (up)
• messing (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fostering
• caring (for)
• nurturing
• cherishing
• favoring
• gratifying
• spoiling
• indulging
• catering (to)
• coddling
• humoring
• pampering
• babying
• mollycoddling

2

as in manhandling

to abuse physically

adopted a sadly mishandled puppy from the pound

Synonyms & Similar Words

• abusing
• manhandling
• attacking
• mauling
• maltreating
• ambushing
• torturing
• injuring
• roughing (up)
• misusing
• beating
• mistreating
• hurting
• battering
• slapping
• wounding
• harming
• fighting
• licking
• wrestling
• pummeling
• persecuting
• bashing
• lambasting
• knocking
• thrashing
• buffeting
• roughhousing
• hitting
• ill-treating
• pounding
• ill-using
• assailing
• wronging
• oppressing
• jumping
• tormenting
• clobbering
• drubbing
• pommeling
• ganging up (on)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fondling
• caressing
• petting
• coddling
• fostering
• pampering
• caring (for)
• nurturing
• mollycoddling

3

as in damaging

to manage badly

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• damaging
• mismanaging
• violating
• abusing
• misconducting
• misgoverning
• mistreating
• misusing
• maladministering
• misruling
• bungling
• harming
• hurting
• maltreating
• botching
• ill-treating
• ill-using

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• handling
• governing
• managing
• ruling
• protecting
• helping
• caring (for)
• husbanding
• aiding
• nurturing
• rescuing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of mishandling

Noun

The bill was ushered through the state General Assembly after the discovery of extensive mishandling of bodies at a Carlinville funeral home, where at least 80 families were given the wrong remains. — Casey Toner, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026

Welch has described his mishandling of this matter as a systemic failure. — David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026

Hur, following his investigation into Biden’s alleged mishandling of classified documents, released a lengthy report in February 2024 that concluded no criminal charges were warranted against Biden. — Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026

Shilts made history as the first out gay reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, and then again with this landmark book about the mishandling of the AIDS crisis in its early days. — Michael Schaub, Oc Register, 25 June 2026

The mishandling of pregnancies behind bars is a widespread problem, with women around the country saying they were neglected or harmed while they were locked up. — Abigail Brooks, NBC news, 13 May 2026

Cox fired Tanner in May 1988 for his mishandling of the Braves’ young pitchers, replacing him with Nixon. — Mark Bradley For The Ajc, AJC.com, 9 May 2026

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

Verb

The incident is only the latest example of park and zoo visitors mishandling animals in ways that draw public condemnation. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2026

What if, instead of paying $250 million after mishandling big stock trades, Morgan Stanley simply wasn’t allowed to do those trades for a while? — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 3 Sep. 2026

Any moment where mishandling could create extra-contractual exposure. — Manish Garg, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026

An attorney representing Matthew Mayich’s family said Arizona State University is mishandling the investigation into the hockey player’s collapse and hospitalization and called on members of the coaching staff to be put on administrative leave. — Nathan Fenno, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026

Barry Hankerson accused Jomo Hankerson of mishandling travel arrangements for a Bahamas trip more than 25 years ago that ended in a plane crash that killed the 22-year-old singer and eight others, according to documents obtained by USA TODAY. — Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026

An attorney representing the Morgans, who are being sued for mishandling remains at both facilities, declined to comment. — Casey Toner, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026

Smith’s late mother, Melody Johnson, was cremated at the Bohemian National Cemetery and Crematorium, which is also under investigation for mishandling remains in a case related to the problems at South Chicago Chapel. — Allison Kiehl, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026

After almost mishandling the handoff to Breece Hall on his second snap, Klubnik looked poised and comfortable. — Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2026