mishandle

verb

mis·​han·​dle (ˌ)mis-ˈhan-dᵊl How to pronounce mishandle (audio)
mishandled; mishandling; mishandles

transitive verb

1
: to treat roughly : maltreat
2
: to deal with or manage wrongly or ignorantly

Examples of mishandle in a Sentence

The police mishandled the investigation. Apples are easily bruised when they are mishandled. The shortstop mishandled the throw. The quarterback fumbled when he mishandled the snap.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey traces the pageant princess’s murder along with how law enforcement and the media are alleged to have mishandled the case. Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2024 Bud Abbott and Lou Costello play security guards who accidentally mishandle a delivery from the Museum of Horrors, reincarnating Dracula and Frankenstein’s Monster in the process. EW.com, 31 Oct. 2024 Cannon was randomly assigned to oversee both Routh’s case and Trump’s indictment accusing him of mishandling classified documents after leaving office and obstructing the government’s efforts to retrieve them. Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 29 Oct. 2024 During the five-year period of the government’s investigation, the Transportation Department said the airline mishandled thousands of wheelchairs by damaging them or delaying their return to passengers who relied on them. Megan Poinski, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for mishandle 

Word History

First Known Use

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mishandle was in 1530

Dictionary Entries Near mishandle

Cite this Entry

“Mishandle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mishandle. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

mishandle

verb
mis·​han·​dle (ˈ)mis-ˈhan-dᵊl How to pronounce mishandle (audio)
1
: to treat roughly : maltreat
2
: to manage wrongly
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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