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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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in attacked
to abuse physically
if you maltreat the puppy, we will take it away immediately
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of maltreated
Rob Williams, EverydayHealth.com, 22 Apr. 2026
The Adams County Health and Human Services Department’s initial assessment indicated that the infant was maltreated, though a final autopsy report is still pending, TMZ reported.
—Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 9 Mar. 2026
Social media can’t replace offline resources for children who are being maltreated.
—Laura Schwab Reese, The Conversation, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
Canadian researchers found that older adults who were maltreated as children may face a significantly higher risk of cancer decades later.
—Rob Williams, EverydayHealth.com, 22 Apr. 2026
The Adams County Health and Human Services Department’s initial assessment indicated that the infant was maltreated, though a final autopsy report is still pending, TMZ reported.
—Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 9 Mar. 2026
Social media can’t replace offline resources for children who are being maltreated.
—Laura Schwab Reese, The Conversation, 2 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for maltreated
Adjective
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The next day, at 1:10 p.m., Nunez said after checking her records, the foster mother returned with a doctor’s note and prescription from the SPARK Clinic — a health center established to treat abused children in the child welfare system — for some kind of cream.—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
Mercury News,
7 May 2026
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The organization focuses on homeless, abused and unwanted animals, working to match them with suitable adoptive homes and staying involved after adoption.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Justin is being bullied at school, but doesn’t want to burden his father.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
15 May 2026
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Amar, who is nine years old, has been hit and bullied at school; once, a classmate strangled him.—
Annie Hylton,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Moments after the landscaper was attacked, officers got a call about a car in the middle of the street nearby.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
19 May 2026
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Denise attacked Djena again, beating her until Mohamed and their eldest son, Ahmed, pulled her off.—
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
Verb
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In 2017, the Illinois Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission determined ther was credible evidence that Day was tortured into a false confession.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
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On the device was a recording lasting over seven hours that allegedly captured the sound of Torbick being tortured, prosecutors reportedly said.—
Liam Quinn,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
Verb
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The attack was Australia’s first shark fatality since January, when a 12-year-old boy died in a hospital days after he was mauled by a bull shark in Sydney Harbor.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 May 2026
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The arrangement appeared to be working out well until that morning, when less than an hour after Loyalty's arrival, Miller called 911 to report that the boy had been mauled by her two Great Dane/Mastiff mixes.—
Chris Spargo,
PEOPLE,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Kabuga did not want to return to Rwanda — which offered to take him — out of fear he would be mistreated.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 May 2026
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Some of the Richins' children described waking in fear the day their father died and being mistreated by Kouri Richins in statements read by their counselors.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Those ramped up after Ottawa was completely manhandled by the Canes, and never held the lead at any point in the series.—
Matt Reigle OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
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The $100 million price tag attached to the legal action is to make sure the city takes Brown’s allegations seriously — and ensure no one else is manhandled by the police without cause, Brown’s attorney Derek Sells of the Cochran Firm said.—
Sheetal Banchariya,
New York Daily News,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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When their convoy is brutally ambushed, they are left handcuffed together and, on the run, forcing her to put her life in his hands.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
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Minnesotans whose names were also inscribed at the memorial and who are being recognized this week are Anoka County Sheriff’s Detention Deputy Richard Legler, who was ambushed nearly 40 years ago, and Red Lake tribal police officer Jesse Branch.—
Mara H. Gottfried,
Twin Cities,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Maltreated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maltreated. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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