1
as in abused
to abuse physically
charges that the police manhandled peaceful protesters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bullied
to inflict physical or emotional harm upon
if you see anyone manhandling a child, you should call the authorities
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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 manhandled
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
From the first-quarter red-zone stand to the fourth-quarter strip sack that left Justin Herbert twisted, bloodied and dazed, the Patriots defense manhandled the Los Angeles Chargers in the teams’ wild-card playoff matchup.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 12 Jan. 2026
Before his team manhandled Miami, Vrabel gave voice to this during a pregame radio interview when answering if the Patriots might rest starters in order to preserve their health for the playoffs.
—Andrew Callahan, Hartford Courant, 5 Jan. 2026
Coogan’s improbable honor was a beautiful bit of symbolism that recognized the manner in which these hard-nosed Hoosiers physically manhandled the Crimson Tide to reach the College Football Playoff semifinals with their 38-3 victory Thursday.
—Greg Beacham, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
The defensive interior was manhandled for most of the season, and in each of their three regular-season losses, the Trojans were trampled on the ground.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2026
The Vikings tried to put linebacker Blake Cashman on the line of scrimmage for a blitz look on that play, and Booker completely manhandled him.
—Derrik Klassen, New York Times, 17 Dec. 2025
James Cook carried the rock 32 times for 144 yards and the offensive line thoroughly manhandled Mike Tomlin’s defense.
—Chris Bumbaca, USA Today, 1 Dec. 2025
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
From the first-quarter red-zone stand to the fourth-quarter strip sack that left Justin Herbert twisted, bloodied and dazed, the Patriots defense manhandled the Los Angeles Chargers in the teams’ wild-card playoff matchup.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 12 Jan. 2026
Before his team manhandled Miami, Vrabel gave voice to this during a pregame radio interview when answering if the Patriots might rest starters in order to preserve their health for the playoffs.
—Andrew Callahan, Hartford Courant, 5 Jan. 2026
Coogan’s improbable honor was a beautiful bit of symbolism that recognized the manner in which these hard-nosed Hoosiers physically manhandled the Crimson Tide to reach the College Football Playoff semifinals with their 38-3 victory Thursday.
—Greg Beacham, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
The defensive interior was manhandled for most of the season, and in each of their three regular-season losses, the Trojans were trampled on the ground.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2026
The Vikings tried to put linebacker Blake Cashman on the line of scrimmage for a blitz look on that play, and Booker completely manhandled him.
—Derrik Klassen, New York Times, 17 Dec. 2025
James Cook carried the rock 32 times for 144 yards and the offensive line thoroughly manhandled Mike Tomlin’s defense.
—Chris Bumbaca, USA Today, 1 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manhandled
Verb
-
Saxon had abused the woman for years, fracturing her hip and nose and causing internal bleeding, a judge found in a ruling ordering him detained pending trial.—
Ryan J. Foley,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
-
He is estimated to have abused at least 1,000 women and children over decades of secret operations, the Justice Department said.—
Lily Kepner,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
That defense straight up bullied him.—
Prince J. Grimes,
USA Today,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The young boy then has to navigate being 10 and being bullied, having crushes on girls, all while older siblings Yvette (Essence Atkins) and Marcus (Jason Weaver) cringe at the thought of him being at the same high school.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The book's Japanese translator was murdered, and others associated with it were attacked.—
Anderson Cooper,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Because as Bam Adebayo attacked a second-quarter offensive rebound with seemingly nothing but open air space toward the rim, teammate Kel’el Ware had similar thoughts of contesting that same carom of that Davion Mitchell errant attempt.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Now it’s finally tortured artist Benedict Bridgerton’s (Luke Thompson) turn.—
Arushi Jacob,
Variety,
31 Jan. 2026
-
All of this makes the job of being an informed citizen just tortured.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Lanning has been a borderline disaster in the CFP, getting squashed by Ohio State in 2024 and mauled by Indiana in 2025 (after dominating Texas Tech).—
Kirk Bohls,
Houston Chronicle,
4 Feb. 2026
-
The family’s oldest child was once forced to watch her cat be mauled to death by feral dogs after she was caught taking food out of the pantry without permission.—
Stephanie Kaloi,
PEOPLE,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Investigators allege that Andrade and Rodriguez ambushed 6ix9ine’s mother at gunpoint in the garage of the rapper’s Wellington, Florida home.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
3 Feb. 2026
-
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said an ICE agent shot a Venezuelan national in the leg after agents were allegedly ambushed and attacked with a shovel.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Social media can’t replace offline resources for children who are being maltreated.—
Laura Schwab Reese,
The Conversation,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
While rare, copperheads can bite if they’re mishandled or feel threatened.—
Tanasia Kenney,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Feb. 2026
-
No after-action reports were needed to know that Los Angeles badly mishandled last January’s fires, which damaged or destroyed more than 18,000 structures, burned more than 37,000 acres and resulted in 31 direct deaths.—
Editorial Board,
Washington Post,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Manhandled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manhandled. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
