maltreat

[ mal-treet ]

verb (used with object)

1. to treat or handle badly, cruelly, or roughly; abuse:

   to maltreat a prisoner.

   Synonyms: injure, mistreat

maltreat

/ mælˈtriːt /

verb

1. tr to treat badly, cruelly, or inconsiderately

Derived Forms

• malˈtreatment, noun
• malˈtreater, noun

Other Words From

• mal·treat·er noun
• mal·treat·ment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of maltreat¹

First recorded in 1700–10; earlier maltrait, from French maltraiter; mal-, treat

Word History and Origins

Origin of maltreat¹

C18: from French maltraiter

Example Sentences

"They didn't have food and water, and they were maltreated physically and psychologically," says Teresa Flores Munoz, a local police officer involved in the operation.

From BBC

“If people continue maltreating the sacred lake like this, it will expand again and drown all the villages and towns around it.”

From Seattle Times

They have described using such tools as a moral imperative, insisting that child welfare officials should draw from all data at their disposal to make sure children aren’t maltreated.

From Seattle Times

"There were those who treated us like humans, they understood us and sympathised with us. I can’t say that everyone was bad and maltreated us. It depended on the person," she said.

From Reuters

Darya Morozova, who deals with prisoners’ rights in rebel-held Donetsk, denied that they were maltreated, and said her side in the conflict was also seeking the release of 94 people held by Ukraine.

From Reuters

Related Words

• victimize