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.
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to lose or misplace.
to mishandle baggage.
verb
Etymology
Origin of mishandle
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.
On cold tires, cars like the Ferrari don’t handle; they mishandle.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 6, 2025
An independent investigation found that Wada did not mishandle the case or show bias towards the Chinese swimmers.
From BBC • Jul. 31, 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
“It is a serious matter for any government official to mishandle classified documents,” Turner said.
From Seattle Times • Jan. 25, 2023
But I have ever observed that the foremost in the field are they who would scorn to mishandle a prisoner.
From The White Company by Doyle, Arthur Conan, Sir
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.
