Mistreat Definition & Meaning

American

British

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms mistreat American [mis-treet] / mɪsˈtrit /

verb (used with object)

1. to treat badly or abusively.

   Synonyms: wrong, misuse, ill-treat, maltreat

mistreat British / ˌmɪsˈtriːt /

verb

1. (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.

“And if we give ourselves a fair chance, we have less time to mistreat others.”

From Los Angeles Times

"I always said that he never mistreated me," she said at the time.

From Barron's

Throughout, she’ll allude to stories of mistreated animals and the Griffith Park fire of 1933, heightening the sense that we are in the presence of unnatural occurrences.

From Los Angeles Times

Chinese authorities have denied that Lai has been mistreated in prison, and said he is in "good health".

From BBC

Egyptian rights organisations have said Farouk was denied his right to a fair trial and has been mistreated behind bars, including being denied adequate medical care and access to sunlight.

From Barron's

Related Words

• abuse
• brutalize
• harm
• maltreat
• maul
• misuse
• molest
• rough up

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.