mistreat

American

[mis-treet] / mɪsˈtrit /

verb (used with object)

to treat badly or abusively.

Synonyms:

wrong, misuse, ill-treat, maltreat

mistreat British

/ ˌmɪsˈtriːt /

verb

(tr) to treat badly

"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

Other Word Forms

mistreatment noun

Etymology

Origin of mistreat

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English mistreten; mis- ¹, treat

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.

Zambian union leaders said Chinese managers pay poorly and mistreat workers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 28, 2025

One attendee had even brought her sign from 2017, a verse from Leviticus in English and in Hebrew: “When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them.”

From Slate • Mar. 27, 2025

And he said, ‘Well, I mean, what is your assessment? It looks quite scary. So, when the protests end, do you think you are willing to say that we did not mistreat you in prison?’

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 4, 2024

There are a lot of people who mistreat dogs and take dogs for granted.

From Salon • Apr. 23, 2024

He also tried to place his granddaughter under surveillance, for he thought that since she moved in a circle of Communists, at any moment someone might mistreat her because of her relationship with him.

From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023