mistreated 1 of 2

adjective

as in abused

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mistreated

2 of 2

verb

past tense of mistreat
as in bullied
to inflict physical or emotional harm upon the foster parent who had been mistreating his charges was sent to jail

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of mistreated
Verb
Human rights organizations have released multiple reports alleging Palestinian prisoners are mistreated, tortured and wrongfully detained in Israeli jails. — CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026 Detectives said Beemer claimed his mother had mistreated him for years, including molesting him. — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026 For months, Democratic members of Congress and several advocacy organizations have called for Camp East Montana to be closed, citing reports that detainees have been routinely mistreated since its opening in August 2025. — Ryan J. Foley, Los Angeles Times, 28 July 2026 Bitter irony abounds, as when Nora, who is Black, attends a workplace mental health seminar in which a white, male supervisor who once mistreated her pretends to care about employees’ trauma. — Judy Berman, Time, 27 July 2026 But the suits allege that while these three students were at the school, staff did not protect them or prevent them from being mistreated. — Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 24 July 2026 In June, Hilton returned to the Provo Canyon School to support two families who filed lawsuits alleging that their children were mistreated at the school. — ABC News, 17 July 2026 By 1790, half of the world's coffee was being grown in the French colony of Saint-Domingue, in what is today Haiti, Pendergrast says, where slaves were routinely mistreated, raped and murdered. — James Doubek, NPR, 3 July 2026 Children who once feared or mistreated animals begin to show care and leadership. — Patricia Huon, Christian Science Monitor, 30 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mistreated
  1. abused
  2. bullied
  3. tortured
Adjective
  • At the end of the poem, Odysseus transforms from an abused guest to a murderous host, neither of which is ideal.
    — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 20 July 2026
  • Sara O’Meara is a cofounder and CEO of Childhelp, a nonprofit dedicated to serving the needs of abused, neglected and at-risk children.
    — Sara O'Meara, Baltimore Sun, 26 June 2026
Definition of abused
Verb
  • For over two years, a 16-year-old transgender girl says she was bullied, excluded and discriminated against by her teammates and coaches at the Capital Crew youth rowing program housed at the Sacramento State Aquatic Center.
    — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Airing on March 18, 1975, the episode was focused on the Evans family’s young son Michael Evans (Ralph Carter), who was being bullied at school for his lunch money by classmate Eddie (Doug Grant).
    — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of bullied
Verb
  • He was brutally tortured before being assigned his painting duties.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Other commissions include a monument to honor Native voices, a sculpture of gospel singer and Civil Rights activist Mahalia Jackson, and a site to recognize the survivors who were tortured by the Chicago Police Department during the 1970s-1990s.
    — Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of tortured

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Cite this Entry

“Mistreated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mistreated. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on mistreated

Nglish: Translation of mistreated for Spanish Speakers

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