MISTREATS Synonyms: 45 Similar and Opposite Words

mistreats

verb

present tense third-person singular of mistreat

as in abuses

to inflict physical or emotional harm upon the foster parent who had been mistreating his charges was sent to jail

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of mistreats Platner is also an unfaithful spouse who mistreats women. — Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 25 June 2026 Victor’s own father is obsessed with legacy and perfection and mistreats his boy, and that cycle continues with Victor and the Creature. — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025 Mihály is a brute who mistreats his mother. — Adam Solomons, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mistreats

Verb

Before more cameras appear, your community deserves clear answers about who can search the records, how long the data stays available and what happens when someone abuses access.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026
New York City’s child welfare agency routinely abuses its emergency power to take children from their parents without a court order, creating lifelong consequences for families, a new class-action lawsuit seeking to end the practice alleged Thursday.

— Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 28 May 2026

Definition of abuses

Verb

Williams called Valkyries fans bullies in an Instagram Live stream earlier this week, and by Friday night, Chase Center had the receipts.

— Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 20 June 2026
Sweden’s Hien had no idea how to stop Brobbey’s darting runs when looking to connect with crosses from out wide and the striker routinely bullies bigger boys before either scoring or creating for others.

— Carl Anka, New York Times, 20 June 2026

Definition of bullies

Verb

After Max tortures them in a mock-trial confrontation in their living room, Tom eventually tackles Max into the backyard pool.

— Benjamin VanHoose, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026
On his latest Hyperdub release, the Japanese producer born Takahide Higuchi sings more than on previous records but tortures his voice through a gauntlet of pitch-shifter effects.

— Daniel Bromfield, Pitchfork, 27 July 2026

Definition of tortures

Browse Nearby Words

mistreatments

mistreats

mistress

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Mistreats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mistreats. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of mistreats

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on mistreats

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

zeugma

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes