1
as in to abuse
to abuse physically
charges that the police manhandled peaceful protesters
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to bully
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
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Recent Examples of manhandle
Still, Garcia, 27, was able to manhandle Barrios most of the night to claim Barrios’ WBC welterweight belt, his first title.
—
John Whisler, San Antonio Express-News, 22 Feb. 2026
Social media served up a daily video deluge of heavily armed agents randomly manhandling dark-skinned people.
—Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
The Pats manhandled Denver in the AFC Championship Game, thanks mostly to defensive tackles Milton Williams and Christian Barmore.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2026
The Patriots’ offense can certainly hang, put points on the board and perhaps make this game competitive, but after watching Seattle manhandle San Francisco and then win an overtime shootout against the Rams, my confidence leans far more toward Macdonald’s group.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for manhandle
John Whisler, San Antonio Express-News, 22 Feb. 2026
Social media served up a daily video deluge of heavily armed agents randomly manhandling dark-skinned people.
—Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
The Pats manhandled Denver in the AFC Championship Game, thanks mostly to defensive tackles Milton Williams and Christian Barmore.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2026
The Patriots’ offense can certainly hang, put points on the board and perhaps make this game competitive, but after watching Seattle manhandle San Francisco and then win an overtime shootout against the Rams, my confidence leans far more toward Macdonald’s group.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for manhandle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manhandle
Verb
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Prosecutors argue that Duckett was a monster in disguise who abused the badge and brutally raped and killed Teresa before dumping her body in a lake.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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The officer laughed and explained that someone had called in a report about a canine possibly being abused or in need of emergency veterinary care due to the noise.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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We just got bullied to the basket.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
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And your husband should not have allowed himself to be bullied by his brother into sending a second present.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The ban was previously enacted in 2009 after a resident was mauled by a pitbull.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
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The film features a scene in which Luke Skywalker is savagely mauled by the yetilike Wampa.—
Sanat Pai Raikar,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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People created memes and videos mocking Roan for mistreating children.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
25 Mar. 2026
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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
Verb
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Over the next 15 months, Alameda County social workers received at least seven reports that the girl was being abused — warnings that repeatedly were mishandled or went unheeded, according to an investigation by the Bay Area News Group.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2026
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Like investigations were getting mishandled, employee investigations — which are a very big deal.—
Walker Armstrong,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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However, human rights groups say migrants are being brutalized and pushed back illegally at EU borders, while legal protections are increasingly being hollowed out.—
Sam McNeil,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
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Bakri is more brittle in Farah Nabulsi’s The Teacher as Basem, a Palestinian teacher in the West Bank whose support for insurgents grows after his own son dies in prison and as Israeli settlers brutalize his neighborhood.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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At that point, Cupe allegedly became agitated and attacked the bystander with a box cutter, slashing him across the chest.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
2 Apr. 2026
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Trump has also threatened to attack Iran’s Kharg Island oil export hub.—
Will Weissert,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That night, Kane was injured, and Carsley tried to pick the boldest, most talented team possible, with Jude Bellingham nominally up front, and Foden, Palmer, Gordon and Bukayo Saka in, too.—
Jack Pitt-Brooke,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2026
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The conditions for the three people injured in the shooting wasn't immediately available.—
Siafa Lewis,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Manhandle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manhandle. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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