maltreat

[ mal-treet ]

/ mælˈtrit /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR maltreat ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to treat or handle badly, cruelly, or roughly; abuse: to maltreat a prisoner.

Nearby words

malthusianism, malting, maltodextrin, maltol, maltose, maltreat, maltster, malty, maluku, malunion, malus' law

Origin of maltreat

1700–10; earlier maltrait < French maltraiter. See mal-, treat

SYNONYMS FOR maltreat

mistreat, injure.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR maltreat ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

mal·treat·er, nounmal·treat·ment, noun

Can be confused

maltreatment mistreatment

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for maltreat

My whole theme was the way we maltreat royal persons, making them one superhuman, and yet less than human.
Hilary Mantel: I Have No Regrets About Kate Middleton "Jointed Doll" Comments|Tom Sykes|March 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He wished to govern England in law and order, and not to maltreat the natives.
A History of England|Charles Oman
He liked his work,—nothing pleased him more than to maltreat this little prince of the blood,—and he liked his pay even better.
When a Cobbler Ruled a King|Augusta Huiell Seaman
She puts the baby into the care of peasants who neglect and maltreat the little creature.
Character Sketches of Romance, Fiction and the Drama, Vol 1|The Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D.

He was so enraged at this neglect on the part of England, that he began to maltreat the missionaries and consuls of that country.
Asiatic Breezes|Oliver Optic
He leaped from his throne and rushed toward Zopyrus, demanding who had dared to maltreat one of his generals in such a manner.
Darius the Great|Jacob Abbott

British Dictionary definitions for maltreat

maltreat

/ (mælˈtriːt) /

verb

(tr) to treat badly, cruelly, or inconsiderately

Derived Forms

maltreater, nounmaltreatment, noun

Word Origin for maltreat

C18: from French maltraiter

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012