mishandle

verb

mis·​han·​dle (ˌ)mis-ˈhan-dᵊl How to pronounce mishandle (audio)
mishandled; mishandling; mishandles
Synonyms of mishandlenext

transitive verb

1
: to treat roughly : maltreat
2
: to deal with or manage wrongly or ignorantly

Synonyms of mishandle

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Examples of mishandle in a Sentence

The police mishandled the investigation. Apples are easily bruised when they are mishandled. The shortstop mishandled the throw. The quarterback fumbled when he mishandled the snap.
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.
Here was a brainy, confident bombshell who couldn’t be treated like a disposable plaything — a type of actor Hollywood has lusted for since those earlier black-and-white classics but usually mishandles. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026 The engineer who had asked the question followed it, triggering a permission change that exposed company data for two hours, though a Meta spokesperson denied earlier reports that user data was mishandled. — Tyler Akidau, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 During Wednesday's press conference, NAACP President Derrick Johnson accused investigators of mishandling the case. — Elise Gregg, NPR, 22 July 2026 Gill, an attorney for the health system, was named CEO of the Florida hospitals earlier this year after the company’s founder was ousted over allegations related to mishandling money. — Verónica Egui Brito july 16, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for mishandle

Word History

First Known Use

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mishandle was in 1530

Rhymes for mishandle

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Browse Nearby Words

misguided
mishandle
mishanter
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Cite this Entry

“Mishandle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mishandle. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

mishandle

verb
mis·​han·​dle (ˈ)mis-ˈhan-dᵊl How to pronounce mishandle (audio)
1
: to treat roughly : maltreat
2
: to manage wrongly
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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