manhandle

verb

man·​han·​dle ˈman-ˌhan-dᵊl How to pronounce manhandle (audio)
manhandled; manhandling; manhandles
Synonyms of manhandlenext

transitive verb

1
: to handle roughly
2
: to move or manage by human force
manhandled the posts into place

Examples of manhandle in a Sentence

They manhandled the heavy boxes onto the truck. She manhandled the posts into place. He was manhandling the boy. He says he was manhandled by the police.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The Pats manhandled Denver in the AFC Championship Game, thanks mostly to defensive tackles Milton Williams and Christian Barmore. Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2026 The Patriots’ offense can certainly hang, put points on the board and perhaps make this game competitive, but after watching Seattle manhandle San Francisco and then win an overtime shootout against the Rams, my confidence leans far more toward Macdonald’s group. Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 7 Feb. 2026 Making the scene even more a spectacle was the fact that Yam Yam was literally being manhandled and dragged out of the castle while doing so. Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Jan. 2026 After his holstered gun was discovered under his coat and removed while he was being manhandled, he was executed on the spot by one of the officers despite lying unarmed and defenseless on the ground. Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 27 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for manhandle

Word History

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of manhandle was in 1851

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Manhandle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/manhandle. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

manhandle

verb
man·​han·​dle ˈman-ˌhan-dᵊl How to pronounce manhandle (audio)
1
: to handle roughly
2
: to move or manage by human force

More from Merriam-Webster on manhandle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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