1
as in to abuse
to inflict physical or emotional harm upon
having been shuffled from foster home to foster home, the orphaned girl felt she had been mishandled by an uncaring society
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2
as in to manhandle
to abuse physically
adopted a sadly mishandled puppy from the pound
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3
as in to mismanage
to manage badly
we took over as soon as we realized that the fill-in had been mishandling the situation
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mishandle
Americans deserve better than to have their information serially mishandled by reckless bureaucrats.
—
Ross Marchand, Baltimore Sun, 7 May 2025
In 2022 alone, over 26 million pieces of luggage were delayed, damaged, or lost—representing a mishandling rate of 7.6 bags per 1,000 passengers globally.
—Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025
But the reality of Medicare Advantage is mishandled payments and improper reporting, which costs taxpayers billions in overspending on healthy patients.
—Juliette Madrigal, Boston Herald, 12 May 2025
The Peruvian Bishops’ Conference did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the AP regarding the mishandling accusations alleged by the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.
—Franklin Briceno, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for mishandle
Ross Marchand, Baltimore Sun, 7 May 2025
In 2022 alone, over 26 million pieces of luggage were delayed, damaged, or lost—representing a mishandling rate of 7.6 bags per 1,000 passengers globally.
—Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025
But the reality of Medicare Advantage is mishandled payments and improper reporting, which costs taxpayers billions in overspending on healthy patients.
—Juliette Madrigal, Boston Herald, 12 May 2025
The Peruvian Bishops’ Conference did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the AP regarding the mishandling accusations alleged by the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.
—Franklin Briceno, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for mishandle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mishandle
Verb
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The bill was named after Trey Carlock, a Dallas native who died by suicide in 2019 at the age of 28 after being abused by a Missouri summer camp director.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 May 2025
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Two tribal nations filed a lawsuit saying that the federal government used the trust fund money of tribes to pay for boarding schools where generations of Native children were systematically abused.—
Graham Lee Brewer,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2025
Verb
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As a team, the Celtics shot 4-for-20 from deep and were manhandled on the boards, with New York owning a 32-18 rebounding edge at halftime.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
17 May 2025
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Winning on the margins must replace manhandling inferior opponents, perhaps why base runners who rarely showed any aggression are now hunting an extra 90 feet with every ball put in play.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The company was mismanaged—financially and strategically—and had made some costly mistakes with a previous acquisition.—
Tanya Benedicto Klich,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2025
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At the time, Bunn was aware that mismanaged evidence could lead to the potential legal consequences, according to the complaint.—
Julia Marnin,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The allegation that Afrikaners were being mistreated was at the center of an executive order Trump issued days later that cut all U.S. assistance to South Africa.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 May 2025
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Two shows on Netflix last year helped inject momentum into a slow-moving legal process, and new interest in the brothers’ fate was fueled by campaigns on TikTok and other social media by younger people who felt the brothers were mistreated in the 1990s.—
Tim Arango,
New York Times,
15 May 2025
Verb
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Kansas adopted stricter laws on exotic animal ownership following the 2005 death of 17-year-old Hailey Hilderbrand, who was mauled by a 700-pound Siberian tiger while posing for a photo at the Lost Creek Sanctuary in Labette County, Kansas.—
J.M. Banks,
Kansas City Star,
30 May 2025
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Behind him, a 3-month-old calf that had been mauled by wolves the night before lay in the grass with deep wounds on its flanks.—
Jack Dolan,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2025
Verb
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After Daniel is bullied by his classmates, he is encouraged to take karate lessons to defend himself.—
Keith Langston,
People.com,
1 June 2025
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For Essiedu’s Snape, his story eventually leads to the revelation that he was relentlessly bullied by James Potter back in the ‘70s, hung upside down with magic at one point, and pining after Lily, James’ eventual wife.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
Verb
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For example, if China can pin down the United States in the Taiwan Strait, Russia and Iran may seize the moment to attack their neighbors.—
Mark Melton,
National Review,
23 May 2025
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There are several leaf spotting diseases that can attack hydrangeas.—
Janet B. Carson,
Arkansas Online,
23 May 2025
Verb
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No one was hurt but the Toyota 4Runner the men were inside and another vehicle were damaged.—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
28 May 2025
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In addition to direct contact, Toxoplasma may also damage sperm because the infection promotes chronic inflammation.—
Bill Sullivan,
The Conversation,
28 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mishandle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mishandle. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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