as in abuses
to inflict physical or emotional harm upon
the foster parent who had been mistreating his charges was sent to jail
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mistreats
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
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
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People deserve a government that watches out for our people’s best interests, not one that abuses its powers and sells us to the highest bidder.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
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According to Lewkowitz, if a grower abuses the soil, the system ceases to be viable, leaving zero likelihood of success from a sustainability standpoint.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Pledge is meaningless if the president of the United States lies to us, divides us, bullies us and steals from us.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
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Collective action deters bullies Harvard never stood alone.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The retrospection tortures her.—
Alexandra Rockey Fleming,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
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Later, in one of the movie's most satisfying scenes, Millie locks Andrew in the attic and tortures him by loudly smashing each plate.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mistreats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mistreats. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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