maltreat
verb
mal·treat ˌmal-ˈtrēt 
maltreated; maltreating; maltreats
transitive verb
: to treat cruelly or roughly : abuse
maltreater
ˌmal-ˈtrē-tər
noun maltreatment
ˌmal-ˈtrēt-mənt
noun 
Synonyms
- abuse
- brutalize
- bully
- ill-treat
- ill-use
- kick around
- manhandle
- mess over [slang]
- mishandle
- mistreat
- misuse
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
a manager fired for maltreating the staff with needless insults if you maltreat the puppy, we will take it away immediately
Recent Examples on the Web Coincidentally, a landmark incident that led to the death of a Nigerian happened in 2009 in Guangzhou, where Nigerians were recently maltreated. 
Abdul-gafar Tobi Oshodi, Quartz Africa, 31 May 2020 Youngsters who live in neighborhoods with more bars or liquor stores are more likely to be maltreated. Kunmi Sobowale, Scientific American, 1 July 2017 Youngsters who live in neighborhoods with more bars or liquor stores are more likely to be maltreated. Kunmi Sobowale, Scientific American, 1 July 2017 Youngsters who live in neighborhoods with more bars or liquor stores are more likely to be maltreated. Kunmi Sobowale, Scientific American, 1 July 2017 Youngsters who live in neighborhoods with more bars or liquor stores are more likely to be maltreated. Kunmi Sobowale, Scientific American, 1 July 2017 Youngsters who live in neighborhoods with more bars or liquor stores are more likely to be maltreated. Kunmi Sobowale, Scientific American, 1 July 2017 Youngsters who live in neighborhoods with more bars or liquor stores are more likely to be maltreated. Kunmi Sobowale, Scientific American, 1 July 2017 Youngsters who live in neighborhoods with more bars or liquor stores are more likely to be maltreated. Kunmi Sobowale, Scientific American, 1 July 2017 See More
Abdul-gafar Tobi Oshodi, Quartz Africa, 31 May 2020 Youngsters who live in neighborhoods with more bars or liquor stores are more likely to be maltreated. Kunmi Sobowale, Scientific American, 1 July 2017 Youngsters who live in neighborhoods with more bars or liquor stores are more likely to be maltreated. Kunmi Sobowale, Scientific American, 1 July 2017 Youngsters who live in neighborhoods with more bars or liquor stores are more likely to be maltreated. Kunmi Sobowale, Scientific American, 1 July 2017 Youngsters who live in neighborhoods with more bars or liquor stores are more likely to be maltreated. Kunmi Sobowale, Scientific American, 1 July 2017 Youngsters who live in neighborhoods with more bars or liquor stores are more likely to be maltreated. Kunmi Sobowale, Scientific American, 1 July 2017 Youngsters who live in neighborhoods with more bars or liquor stores are more likely to be maltreated. Kunmi Sobowale, Scientific American, 1 July 2017 Youngsters who live in neighborhoods with more bars or liquor stores are more likely to be maltreated. Kunmi Sobowale, Scientific American, 1 July 2017 See More Word History
Etymology
partial translation of French maltraiter, from Middle French, from mal- + traiter to treat, from Old French traitier — more at treat entry 1
First Known Use
1708, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
maltreat
verb
mal·treat mal-ˈtrēt
maltreated; maltreating
: to treat in a rough or unkind way : abuse
maltreated 1 of 2
adjective
as in abused
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- abused
- mistreated
- bullied
- intimidated
- cowed
- browbeaten
- persecuted
- oppressed
- crushed
- disheartened
- hectored
- dispirited
- downtrodden
- downcast
- abject
- tyrannized
- despairing
- hopeless
maltreated
2 of 2verb
1
as in bullied
to inflict physical or emotional harm upon a manager fired for maltreating the staff with needless insults a home for children who have been deprived and maltreated Synonyms & Similar Words
- abused
- bullied
- mistreated
- tortured
- injured
- oppressed
- brutalized
- persecuted
- ill-treated
- manhandled
- misused
- violated
- hurt
- mishandled
- harassed
- molested
- ill-used
- tormented
- took apart
- harmed
- victimized
- messed over
- outraged
- wronged
- kicked around
- sandbagged
- burnt
- burned
- worked (over)
- beat (up)
- roughed (up)
- messed (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- fostered
- nurtured
- cherished
- cared (for)
- favored
- pampered
- gratified
- indulged
- catered (to)
- spoilt
- spoiled
- coddled
- mollycoddled
- babied
- humored
2
as in attacked
to abuse physically if you maltreat the puppy, we will take it away immediately Synonyms & Similar Words
- abused
- attacked
- tortured
- mauled
- manhandled
- ambushed
- injured
- mishandled
- mistreated
- battered
- wounded
- beat
- hurt
- persecuted
- ill-treated
- misused
- harmed
- oppressed
- slapped
- pummeled
- wrestled
- wronged
- fought
- buffeted
- thrashed
- licked
- ill-used
- roughed (up)
- tormented
- bashed
- knocked
- drubbed
- pounded
- assailed
- lambasted
- pommeled
- hit
- pummelled
- clobbered
- roughhoused
- pommelled
- jumped
- ganged up (on)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- caressed
- fondled
- petted
- pampered
- coddled
- fostered
- mollycoddled
- nurtured
- cared (for)