as in abused
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as in bullied
to inflict physical or emotional harm upon
the foster parent who had been mistreating his charges was sent to jail
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Recent Examples of mistreated
Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
Despite his status as a transfer, Dent mistreated UCLA’s rival from the jump.
—Aaron Heisen, Oc Register, 25 Feb. 2026
Several cases involve force and abuse The AP’s review found a pattern of charges involving ICE employees and contractors who mistreated vulnerable people in their care.
—Ryan J. Foley, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
The Rafah border crossing, meant to support the ceasefire, has seen minimal passage and reports of Palestinians being interrogated and mistreated.
—Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Many Cuban Americans were mistreated and would probably like to return.
—Moriah Thomas, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
Historically America’s lawmakers addressed the human and environmental impacts of the Industrial Revolution’s transformational technology only after rivers ran with toxic chemicals and mistreated workers picketed.
—Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 25 Jan. 2026
Women’s soccer has gone overlooked and mistreated for so long that scar tissue remains.
—Emily Olsen, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2026
As Thompson notes, Alice has been mistreated by the people of Dahlonega; yet, she’s entrusted with the keys to people’s homes, and with caring for and raising their children.
—Yohana Desta, Rolling Stone, 23 Jan. 2026
Verb
Surveys have found that significant numbers of trans workers report being fired, denied promotions, or mistreated on the job because of their gender identity, Orr said, contributing to broader economic disparities within the trans community.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
Despite his status as a transfer, Dent mistreated UCLA’s rival from the jump.
—Aaron Heisen, Oc Register, 25 Feb. 2026
Several cases involve force and abuse The AP’s review found a pattern of charges involving ICE employees and contractors who mistreated vulnerable people in their care.
—Ryan J. Foley, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
The Rafah border crossing, meant to support the ceasefire, has seen minimal passage and reports of Palestinians being interrogated and mistreated.
—Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Many Cuban Americans were mistreated and would probably like to return.
—Moriah Thomas, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
Historically America’s lawmakers addressed the human and environmental impacts of the Industrial Revolution’s transformational technology only after rivers ran with toxic chemicals and mistreated workers picketed.
—Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 25 Jan. 2026
Women’s soccer has gone overlooked and mistreated for so long that scar tissue remains.
—Emily Olsen, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2026
As Thompson notes, Alice has been mistreated by the people of Dahlonega; yet, she’s entrusted with the keys to people’s homes, and with caring for and raising their children.
—Yohana Desta, Rolling Stone, 23 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mistreated
Adjective
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Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor While wandering in the West Virginia hills, 11-year-old Marty finds an abused beagle, who immediately takes a shine to him.—
Libby Monteith Minor,
Southern Living,
28 Feb. 2026
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Construction is set to begin on a new center in Morgan Hill for abused and neglected children and their families next month.—
Luis Melecio-Zambrano,
Mercury News,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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When these kids finally managed to attend classes, they were beaten and bullied by classmates.—
Daniel Felsenthal,
Pitchfork,
4 Apr. 2026
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Hernandez was emphatic that nobody in her family bullied Rabell, who prior to landing at Hernandez’s home had been a client of DCF’s Adult Protective Services program.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Bundy tortured, raped and killed dozens of young women in more than half a dozen states in the 1970s.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
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Estimates suggest that as many as 1,900 Jews were abducted, tortured and murdered by the military junta during the six-year Dirty War, when many sources say 30,000 people were disappeared.—
Juan Melamed,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mistreated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mistreated. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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