as in abusing
to inflict physical or emotional harm upon
the foster parent who had been mistreating his charges was sent to jail
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Recent Examples of mistreating
The facility has also faced allegations of mistreating prisoners.
—
Jade Jackson, IndyStar, 2 Oct. 2025
Their family had accused the Taliban of mistreating the couple, and urged the government to explain why they had been detained.
—Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2025
Trump has alienated Brazil by defending its former president, charged with trying to overturn a legitimate election, and South Africa, accusing it of mistreating its White citizens.
—Susan Page, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Instead, scenes of life at the nunnery are interspersed with childhood memories, usually involving her mother assisting people in need or her classmates mistreating vulnerable children.
—Nathaniel Moore
september 10, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2025
John Amos‘ daughter has taken legal action against her brother with accusations of mistreating their father, which ultimately resulted in his death.
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 3 Sep. 2019
Jade Jackson, IndyStar, 2 Oct. 2025
Their family had accused the Taliban of mistreating the couple, and urged the government to explain why they had been detained.
—Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2025
Trump has alienated Brazil by defending its former president, charged with trying to overturn a legitimate election, and South Africa, accusing it of mistreating its White citizens.
—Susan Page, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Instead, scenes of life at the nunnery are interspersed with childhood memories, usually involving her mother assisting people in need or her classmates mistreating vulnerable children.
—Nathaniel Moore
september 10, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2025
John Amos‘ daughter has taken legal action against her brother with accusations of mistreating their father, which ultimately resulted in his death.
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mistreating
Verb
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Last year, Cindy Clemishire, 55, accused Morris of abusing her at the age of 12.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
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Cardi responded in kind, speculating whether or not Minaj was abusing substances, and insinuating that Minaj’s substance use has affected her children’s health.—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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More than 3,000 Hamas fighters gunned down civilians, torturing and mutilating some of them in their own homes, still in their pajamas.—
Romina Ruiz-Goiriena,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
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The trailer presents the Jimmies as a downright terrifying clan, showing them violating and torturing other survivors.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Now he's accused the Indianapolis Democrat of bullying and threatening him.—
Kayla Dwyer,
IndyStar,
3 Oct. 2025
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Myran offered a history of bullying as an example.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mistreating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mistreating. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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