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

Other Word Forms

• maltreater noun
• maltreatment 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

That the purpose is crude — manufacturing B-roll of maltreated foreigners for right-wing media — should not distract from the enormous evil that is here, today, threatening the rights of all.

Read more on Salon

"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.

Read more on BBC

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

Read more on 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.

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"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.

Read more on Reuters

Related Words

• victimize