top definitions
related content
examples
british

mistreat

[ mis-treet ]

/ mɪsˈtrit /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR mistreat ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to treat badly or abusively.

Origin of mistreat

First recorded in 1425–75, mistreat is from the late Middle English word mistreten. See mis-¹, treat

SYNONYMS FOR mistreat

maltreat, ill-treat, misuse, wrong.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR mistreat ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM mistreat

mis·treat·ment, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH mistreat

maltreatment mistreatment

Words nearby mistreat

mistletoe bird, mistletoe cactus, mistook, mistral, mistranslate, mistreat, mistress, mistress of ceremonies, mistress of the robes, mistrial, mistrust

Example sentences from the Web for mistreat

That one human being has the capacity to so mistreat another is not news.

Punish the Onlookers |Wendy Murphy |October 30, 2009 |DAILY BEAST
It is one of our peculiarities that we like to mistreat anyone whose soul is differently organized from ours.

Walter Pieterse |Multatuli
It was, of course, not to the interest of the Russians to mistreat the people of Galicia.

The Story of the Great War, Volume II (of VIII) |Various
If you have cruel step-parents who mistreat you out of pure meanness, everybody sympathizes with you.

Georgina's Service Stars |Annie Fellows Johnston

Strangely enough, no effort was made to mistreat the boys or their companion.

The Moving Picture Boys on the Coast |Victor Appleton
Their fears were groundless for Paul would never let a dog go hungry or mistreat a human being.

The Marvelous Exploits of Paul Bunyan |W. B. Laughead

British Dictionary definitions for mistreat

mistreat

/ (ˌmɪsˈtriːt) /

verb

(tr) to treat badly

Derived forms of mistreat

mistreatment, noun