mishandle

verb

mis·​han·​dle (ˌ)mis-ˈhan-dᵊl How to pronounce mishandle (audio)
mishandled; mishandling; mishandles
Synonyms of mishandlenext

transitive verb

1
: to treat roughly : maltreat
2
: to deal with or manage wrongly or ignorantly

Synonyms of mishandle

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Examples of mishandle in a Sentence

The police mishandled the investigation. Apples are easily bruised when they are mishandled. The shortstop mishandled the throw. The quarterback fumbled when he mishandled the snap.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The case also mirrors incidents across the country where remains were allegedly mishandled. — Allison Kiehl, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026 But Jackson also acknowledged Flutter mishandled its own customer proposition, particularly pulling back on promotions and generosity. — Contessa Brewer, CNBC, 5 Aug. 2026 White argued the 49ers mishandled Aiyuk’s path back from injury and may have complicated any potential effort to move him. — Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2026 The lawsuit alleges that employees at Kaiser Permanente mishandled the tissue sample Barksdale gave in March 2025 before it was sent to Quest Diagnostics. — Doha Madani, NBC news, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mishandle

Word History

First Known Use

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mishandle was in 1530

Rhymes for mishandle

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Browse Nearby Words

misguided
mishandle
mishanter
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Cite this Entry

“Mishandle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mishandle. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

mishandle

verb
mis·​han·​dle (ˈ)mis-ˈhan-dᵊl How to pronounce mishandle (audio)
1
: to treat roughly : maltreat
2
: to manage wrongly
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