mistreat

verb

mis·​treat ˌmis-ˈtrēt How to pronounce mistreat (audio)
mistreated; mistreating; mistreats
Synonyms of mistreatnext

transitive verb

: to treat badly : abuse
mistreatment
ˌmis-ˈtrēt-mənt How to pronounce mistreat (audio)
noun

Synonyms of mistreat

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Examples of mistreat in a Sentence

They accuse him of mistreating his wife. She claimed she had been mistreated by the police.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Dustin Degenhardt, a voter in the town of Wainwright, said that Albertans have long been mistreated by Canada’s federal government. — Rob Gillies, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026 Dustin Degenhardt, a voter in the town of Wainwright, said that Albertans have long been mistreated by Canada's federal government. — ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026 Dustin Degenhardt, a Wainwright voter, said Albertans have long been mistreated by Ottawa. — CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026 Dustin Degenhardt, a Wainwright voter, said that Albertans have long been mistreated by Canada’s federal government. — Rob Gillies, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mistreat

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mistreat was in the 15th century

Rhymes for mistreat

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Browse Nearby Words

mistranslation
mistreat
mistress
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Cite this Entry

“Mistreat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mistreat. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

mistreat

verb
mis·​treat (ˈ)mis-ˈtrēt How to pronounce mistreat (audio)
: to treat badly : abuse
mistreatment
-mənt How to pronounce mistreat (audio)
noun
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