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

My whole theme was the way we maltreat royal persons, making them one superhuman, and yet less than human.

From The Daily Beast

The teacher himself is accustomed to maltreat the boys and whip them mercilessly.

From Project Gutenberg

You not only pay another man to take away your means of health, you usually maltreat him.

From Project Gutenberg

If it is rather general to hate Nature and maltreat women, we begin to see why the world is a mad world.'

From Project Gutenberg

It is forbidden to maltreat the inoffensive portion of the population.

From Project Gutenberg

And why should anybody desire to so maltreat and frighten her?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• victimize