as in abusing
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 mistreating
In the film, Reeves portrays Reef Hawk, a superstar actor who realizes he's been mistreating people around him for decades after an anonymous extortionist threatens to publish a video of him that would ruin his career.
—
Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Apr. 2026
People created memes and videos mocking Roan for mistreating children.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 25 Mar. 2026
Brazilian soccer star Jorginho Frello is accusing Chappell Roan‘s team of mistreating his 11-year-old daughter at a hotel in São Paulo.
—Kennedy French, Variety, 21 Mar. 2026
Redzepi had been dogged for years by reports of mistreating his staff and employing unpaid interns at Noma, which received three Michelin stars and was ranked first on the World's 50 Best Restaurants List five times.
—ABC News, 14 Mar. 2026
Redzepi had been dogged for years by reports of mistreating his staff and employing unpaid interns at Noma, which received three Michelin stars and was ranked first on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants List five times.
—Laurie Kellman, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2026
In January 2025, during an investigation by the Colorado Senate Committee on Ethics, Lewis forged several letters reportedly written by former aides to refute allegations that Lewis was mistreating staff.
—Doug Friednash, Denver Post, 6 Mar. 2026
Venezuela has also faced allegations of mistreating its political prisoners, in El Helicoide and elsewhere.
—Uriel Blanco, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
Shatzman said her group’s complaint is the first time a federal judge has been accused of mistreating staff after being reprimanded following an earlier accusation.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 1 Jan. 2026
Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Apr. 2026
People created memes and videos mocking Roan for mistreating children.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 25 Mar. 2026
Brazilian soccer star Jorginho Frello is accusing Chappell Roan‘s team of mistreating his 11-year-old daughter at a hotel in São Paulo.
—Kennedy French, Variety, 21 Mar. 2026
Redzepi had been dogged for years by reports of mistreating his staff and employing unpaid interns at Noma, which received three Michelin stars and was ranked first on the World's 50 Best Restaurants List five times.
—ABC News, 14 Mar. 2026
Redzepi had been dogged for years by reports of mistreating his staff and employing unpaid interns at Noma, which received three Michelin stars and was ranked first on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants List five times.
—Laurie Kellman, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2026
In January 2025, during an investigation by the Colorado Senate Committee on Ethics, Lewis forged several letters reportedly written by former aides to refute allegations that Lewis was mistreating staff.
—Doug Friednash, Denver Post, 6 Mar. 2026
Venezuela has also faced allegations of mistreating its political prisoners, in El Helicoide and elsewhere.
—Uriel Blanco, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
Shatzman said her group’s complaint is the first time a federal judge has been accused of mistreating staff after being reprimanded following an earlier accusation.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 1 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mistreating
Verb
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The White House declined to comment on the allegations against former Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who stepped down last week after multiple allegations of abusing her position’s power, including having an affair with a subordinate and drinking alcohol on the job.—
Ana Ceballos
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
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Under the plan, FISA, which allows warrantless wiretapping of noncitizens, would be extended for three years, with new oversight guardrails and penalties for abusing the spy tool.—
Hailey Bullis,
The Washington Examiner,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The coastal Georgia man arrested in 2018 and accused of torturing, killing and burying his two teenage children in the backyard of the family’s mobile home will spend the rest of his life behind bars after reaching a plea deal.—
Adam Van Brimmer,
AJC.com,
28 Apr. 2026
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The briefing came days after Tierney secured a guilty plea from another Long Island serial killer, Rex Heuermann, who is expected to be sentenced in June after admitting to torturing and killing eight women.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Unfortunately, Trump’s bullying style of diplomacy does not engender a willingness by allies and friends to step forward and provide assistance to our efforts in Iran.—
Tom Jurkowsky,
Baltimore Sun,
25 Apr. 2026
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His campaign is gaining momentum at a time when many of the administration’s steadfast Christian backers—alarmed by the president’s bullying campaign against Pope Leo XIV in recent weeks, among other heresies—have been rethinking their support.—
Elizabeth Bruenig,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mistreating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mistreating. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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