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Mistreating: meaning, definitions and examples

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mistreating

 

[ mɪsˈtriːtɪŋ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

abusive behavior

Mistreating refers to the act of treating someone or something badly or unfairly. This can involve physical, emotional, or verbal abuse, and is often associated with a lack of respect or consideration for the well-being of the recipient. Mistreating can occur in various relationships, including familial, romantic, professional, or social contexts. It can lead to significant psychological and emotional harm to the person being mistreated.

Synonyms

abuse, ill-treat, maltreat, mistreated, wrong

Examples of usage

  • The manager was criticized for mistreating his employees.
  • Animals in the shelter were mistreated by their previous owners.
  • She spoke out against mistreating children in the educational system.

Translations

Translations of the word "mistreating" in other languages:

🇵🇹 mau-tratar

🇮🇳 दुरव्यवहार करना

🇩🇪 schlecht behandeln

🇮🇩 perlakuan buruk

🇺🇦 погане ставлення

🇵🇱 złe traktowanie

🇯🇵 虐待する

🇫🇷 maltraiter

🇪🇸 maltratar

🇹🇷 kötü muamele etmek

🇰🇷 학대하다

🇸🇦 إساءة المعاملة

🇨🇿 špatné zacházení

🇸🇰 zlé zaobchádzanie

🇨🇳 虐待

🇸🇮 slabo ravnanje

🇮🇸 slæmt meðferð

🇰🇿 жаман қарым-қатынас

🇬🇪 ცუდი მოპყრობა

🇦🇿 pislə davranmaq

🇲🇽 maltratar

Etymology

The word 'mistreat' originates from the prefix 'mis-', derived from Old English, meaning 'wrongly' or 'badly', combined with the word 'treat', which comes from the Latin 'tractare', meaning 'to handle' or 'to manage'. The term emerged in English during the late Middle Ages, evolving from earlier forms of the word 'treat'. Over time, 'mistreat' became more widely used to specifically indicate inappropriate or harmful treatment of individuals or groups. The notion of mistreating someone highlights a significant social issue, as it addresses various forms of abuse, exploitation, and neglect that can take place in numerous contexts, such as domestic environments, workplaces, and communities. The recognition of mistreatment has led to the development of laws and social movements aimed at protecting vulnerable populations from abuse and advocating for fair treatment.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #36,492, 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.