mishandles

verb

present tense third-person singular of mishandle
1
as in abuses
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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2
as in mauls
to abuse physically adopted a sadly mishandled puppy from the pound

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in mismanages
to manage badly we took over as soon as we realized that the fill-in had been mishandling the situation

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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 mishandles Here was a brainy, confident bombshell who couldn’t be treated like a disposable plaything — a type of actor Hollywood has lusted for since those earlier black-and-white classics but usually mishandles. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026 Your case shows that persistence, clear documentation and advocacy can make a real difference — even when an airline mishandles a medical refund request. — Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 18 May 2026 The quarterback mishandles the snap and heaves the ball, which is picked off. — Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 18 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mishandles
  1. abuses
  2. mauls
  3. violates
  4. mistreats
  5. manhandles
  6. damages
  7. attacks
  8. misconducts
Verb
  • Anyone who repeatedly abuses AI tools may soon find Claude giving them the silent treatment.
    — James Peckham, PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Detectives will continue investigating these cases aggressively, and anyone who abuses their position with a child will be held accountable.
    — Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of abuses
Verb
  • Bain would immediately give the Dolphins an elite, powerful edge defender who mauls blockers in front of him and fits the 4-3 base defense coach Jeff Hafley wants to play as a traditional defensive end.
    — Kenny Rosarion, Sun Sentinel, 20 Apr. 2026
  • Martin mauls Arlington in 8-6A Arlington Martin got 20 points from Steven Reynolds III and 18 more from Levi Moore as the Warriors blasted Arlington 92-46 in a District 8-6A game on Thursday.
    — Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Jan. 2026
Definition of mauls
Verb
  • In their eyes, this policy violates their First Amendment rights, and the Sheley's have joined the federal case challenging the state's requirements.
    — Chierstin Roth, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • While a judge recently ruled that the question had to stay on the ballot, the court has not ruled on whether the deal violates the city’s own charter, which requires a fair market-value proposal.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of violates
Verb
  • 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
Definition of mistreats
Verb
  • Accurso manhandles the omelet, layering the salad on top before folding it in half.
    — CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of manhandles
Verb
  • The bleeding increases pressure inside the skull and damages brain tissue.
    — Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Nor'easter damages towns at Jersey Shore New Jersey State Police emergency management officials used a drone Monday to survey the damage along the promenade.
    — Madeleine Wright, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of damages
Verb
  • Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder that attacks healthy cells in the central nervous system.
    — Mark Morales, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Why Autoimmune Diseases Are Easy to Miss Autoimmune diseases happen when the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues.
    — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of attacks
Verb
  • In addition, referees were instructed to apply the rules regarding fouls and misconducts more strictly – a move meant to protect players and their inventiveness.
    — Cesar R. Torres, The Conversation, 26 May 2026
Definition of misconducts

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Cite this Entry

“Mishandles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mishandles. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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