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 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 Even more consequentially, some jihadi groups turned Muslim publics against them by mistreating Muslim civilians. — Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2026 Riddle says misdiagnosing and mistreating postpartum psychosis can have adverse effects on patients. — Louisa Moller, CBS News, 10 Aug. 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 After reporting Lopez missing last September, Lopez’s daughter told a detective that Yepez had been mistreating her mother at work, the police report said. — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mistreating

Verb

As Rolling Stone and Sportico have reported, the Riverside plaintiffs all allege that the church should have known that Lorch was abusing children.

— Luke Cyphers, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2026
Damian Reynolds, 34, was sentenced to a 20-year prison sentence — the maximum allowed under the law —after he was convicted of abusing two women, according to the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office.

— Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 6 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

Verb

Concerns over bullying on campus, as well as a lack of security, have also been raised.

— Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
Grande had been the subject of a wave of speculation, concern and bullying regarding her physical appearance following images of the actress-singer going viral in late July.

— James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of bullying

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“Mistreating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mistreating. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of mistreating

verb

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