MISTREATING Synonyms: 45 Similar and Opposite Words

mistreating

verb

present participle of mistreat

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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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 mistreating Neighbors said the man began kicking and mistreating the dog before eventually luring the husky away from the yard with food. — Hunter Sowards, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026 Ever since these rideshare companies began in the early 2010s, they have been scrutinized for underpaying and mistreating drivers. — Cyrus Farivar, ArsTechnica, 2 Oct. 2026 My friend is going through an extremely tough time with a guy who’s mistreating her. — Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 17 Sep. 2026 Even more consequentially, some jihadi groups turned Muslim publics against them by mistreating Muslim civilians. — Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2026 Kanye West is facing another lawsuit accusing him of mistreating a fellow musician. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 4 Aug. 2026 In their July 30 letter, lawmakers noted that there have been at least 15 incidents since 2023 involving staff physically mistreating children at the Morgantown facility, as documented by Pennsylvania state inspectors. — Finch Walker, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2026 At the end, Morrison made the boy apologize to his classmates for mistreating them. — Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 15 July 2026 Collin — who has accused Kate of mistreating him during his childhood — responded to his mom on his Instagram Stories. — Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 15 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mistreating

Verb

In an earlier episode, Pam confronts Grace’s mother about abusing her daughter and ends up bashing in the woman’s head with a meat tenderizer — which sounds like a pivotal moment but plays more like a side quest.

— Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
The former owner of several unlicensed North Texas boarding homes pleaded guilty Monday to financially abusing and fatally neglecting elderly and disabled people in her care, according to court filings.

— Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of abusing

Verb

Guevara has never been charged with a crime in connection with allegedly torturing supsects, and the statute of limitations has long since expired on any such charges, Felker said.

— Chris Tye, CBS News, 5 Oct. 2026
In 1996, Pike was found guilty of first-degree murder for beating, torturing and killing Slemmer, a fellow Jobs Corps worker, in a remote area of the University of Tennessee Agricultural campus.

— Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of torturing

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mistreating

mistreatment

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“Mistreating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mistreating. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of mistreating

verb

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