Finesentence

Manhandle Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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manhandle

man-han-dle

🇺🇸 /ˈmænˌhændəɫ/ · 🇬🇧 /mˈænhændəl/

Definitions

Context #1 | Verb

physical handling

To handle or control roughly or aggressively, especially with physical force.

Synonyms

handle roughly, rough up, treat roughly.

Examples of usage

  • He was manhandled by the security guards.
  • The protestors were manhandled by the police.
  • She felt violated when she was manhandled by a stranger.
Context #2 | Noun

informal

Rough or aggressive handling or treatment.

Synonyms

aggressive treatment, rough handling.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
manhandle

Appropriate in situations where physical force is used to move or control someone or something roughly. Often has a negative connotation.

  • The police had to manhandle the protester into the van
rough handling

Describes situations where something or someone is treated without care or gentleness. It is generally used to describe physical actions and often has a negative implication.

  • The fragile items were subjected to rough handling during transport
  • The child experienced rough handling from the babysitter
aggressive treatment

Used when referring to treatment or behavior that is forceful or hostile. Can be applied in medical or interpersonal contexts, usually with a negative connotation.

  • The patient received aggressive treatment for their illness
  • The customer complained about the aggressive treatment by the staff

Examples of usage

  • The man complained about the manhandle he received from the bouncers.
  • She felt a sense of vulnerability after the manhandle at the concert.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Quick facts about “manhandle”

Manhandle is a 3-syllable verb and noun (man-han-dle). It is pronounced /ˈmænˌhændəɫ/ in American English and /mˈænhændəl/ in British English. On finesentence.com it has 2 meanings, 5 synonyms, and translations into 21 languages. It ranks #38,906 among the most common English words.

Origin of 'manhandle'

The word 'manhandle' originated in the early 19th century from the combination of 'man' and 'handle'. It initially referred to handling a man in a rough or aggressive manner, but over time, it has evolved to encompass rough handling in general.

See also: handlers, mishandle, mishandler, mishandling.

Rhymes

Manhandle rhymes with panhandle.

See all rhymes →

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #38,906, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.