mishandle
Americanverb (used with object)
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to handle badly; maltreat.
to mishandle a dog.
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to manage badly.
to mishandle an estate.
-
to lose or misplace.
to mishandle baggage.
verb
Etymology
Origin of mishandle
Explanation
When you mishandle something, you make a mess of it. For example, a teacher who mishandles a classroom loses control of his students. An entrepreneur who mishandles an important meeting at her bank might have lost an opportunity to borrow money for her business, and a dog trainer who mishandles an aggressive dog might end up getting bitten. When you handle something, you deal with it, and when you add the Old English prefix mis-, it means that you've dealt with it in a "wrong" or "bad" way.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It is also in keeping with the Justice Department’s tradition of aggressively prosecuting government officials who allegedly mishandle classified information.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 17, 2025
An independent investigation found that Wada did not mishandle the case or show bias towards the Chinese swimmers.
From BBC • Jul. 31, 2024
Wednesday was the best game that Clark had played all season, even if she did start 1 for 7 from the field and mishandle an inbound pass in the final seconds of the fourth quarter.
From Seattle Times • May 22, 2024
Davis will be the kick returner to open the regular season, although he did mishandle a punt in the Chargers’ second preseason game, the ball eventually going out of bounds.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 24, 2023
Other people can be windy, but McClintock blows a gale; other people can blubber sentiment, but McClintock spews it; other people can mishandle metaphors, but only McClintock knows how to make a business of it.
From The 30,000 Dollar Bequest and Other Stories by Twain, Mark
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
