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
maltreatment
noun
as in mistreatment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- mistreatment
- ill-treatment
- mismanagement
- mishandling
- ill-usage
- abuse
- destruction
- mismanaging
- misuse
- wrecking
- spoiling
- desecration
- debasement
- misapplication
- prostitution
- misusage
- perversion
- misutilization
- damage
- misemployment
- corruption
- profanation
- ruin
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- application
- employment
- use
- utilization