Thesaurus
maltreat
verb
Synonyms and Antonyms of MALTREAT
1
to inflict physical or emotional harm upon <emotionally maltreated and neglected for years by her husband, she had long ago resigned herself to a loveless marriage>
Synonyms brutalize, bully, ill-treat, ill-use, kick around, maltreat, manhandle, mess over [slang], mishandle, mistreat, misuse
2
to abuse physically <if you maltreat the puppy, we will take it away immediately>
Related Words abuse, ill-treat, ill-use, mistreat, misuse; roughhouse, wrestle; bash, batter, beat, buffet, drub, lambaste (or lambast), lick, pommel, pound, pummel, slap, thrash; harm, hurt, injure, wound; oppress, persecute, wrong; ambush, assail, attack; clobber, fight, gang up (on), hit, jump, knock; torment, torture
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up maltreat? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).