1
as in abused
to abuse physically
charges that the police manhandled peaceful protesters
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bullied
to inflict physical or emotional harm upon
if you see anyone manhandling a child, you should call the authorities
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of manhandled
Before his team manhandled Miami, Vrabel gave voice to this during a pregame radio interview when answering if the Patriots might rest starters in order to preserve their health for the playoffs.
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Andrew Callahan, Hartford Courant, 5 Jan. 2026
Coogan’s improbable honor was a beautiful bit of symbolism that recognized the manner in which these hard-nosed Hoosiers physically manhandled the Crimson Tide to reach the College Football Playoff semifinals with their 38-3 victory Thursday.
—Greg Beacham, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
The defensive interior was manhandled for most of the season, and in each of their three regular-season losses, the Trojans were trampled on the ground.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2026
The Vikings tried to put linebacker Blake Cashman on the line of scrimmage for a blitz look on that play, and Booker completely manhandled him.
—Derrik Klassen, New York Times, 17 Dec. 2025
James Cook carried the rock 32 times for 144 yards and the offensive line thoroughly manhandled Mike Tomlin’s defense.
—Chris Bumbaca, USA Today, 1 Dec. 2025
After getting stuffed and manhandled on their first two drives, the Panthers marched down the field for a 75-yard touchdown drive, with Mason Heintschel throwing a 6-yard touchdown pass to Justin Holmes.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 30 Nov. 2025
The guy has absolutely manhandled some of the best in the world.
—Fernando Quiles Jr, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025
Workers described incidents of verbal and physical abuse, including reports from women workers who said they had been manhandled and subjected to obscene remarks and threats.
—Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 2 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manhandled
Verb
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The suit alleges that Ham abused her repeatedly over a number of years, and that defendants knew of the abuse, but instead chose to prioritize reputational and financial interests over her safety.—
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Canty, a former special agent in charge of the SBI’s Charlotte region office, resigned from the Mecklenburg Sheriff’s Office in November 2024 and issued a letter then alleging that McFadden abused his powers.—
Verb
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For the second game running, Omari Hutchinson was too easily bullied off the ball in a dangerous area.—
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By the time Zoe turns up dead, stabbed to death in her bathtub, Anna begins to put the pieces together that Lexi, her work nemesis, is actually Catherine—the girl her friends had bullied at school.—
Verb
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Crabtree stopped, turned, attacked the ball and snagged it.—
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Nelson claimed to police that the man attacked her and their son after opening the car door.—
Verb
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The attorneys for the Department of Justice argued that the preliminary injunction blocking Abrego Garcia’s removal to Liberia should be dissolved because the government received assurances from the government of the West African country that he will not be persecuted or tortured.—
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Of the few that have arrived in what Saraf describes as a small agricultural town, many have reported being beaten and tortured by different militia groups stationed along the treacherous route between El Fasher and Tawila.—
Verb
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In September, a 71-year-old woman was mauled to death by dogs in Miami Gardens, and a dog killed a 5-month-old infant near Daytona Beach in July.—
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The botanical zoo, which is home to hundreds of animal species, confirmed Machado, 19, was mauled to death in a news release shared on Instagram.—
Verb
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While refusing to fight for the Confederacy and trying to reach safety in Mexico, the group was ambushed by Confederate soldiers on horseback in the 1862 Battle of the Nueces, also called the Nueces massacre.—
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The Colorado Avalanche ambushed the Ottawa Senators’ goaltenders so badly Thursday night, the visitors signed a new one in the middle of the game.—
Verb
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Social media can’t replace offline resources for children who are being maltreated.—
Verb
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Jon and Carie Hallford Wagoner County Sheriff Families argued this falls short of justice, saying the pair should receive at least 191 years — one for each body recovered — plus additional time for the hundreds of other remains that may have been mishandled.—
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Following his 2023 conviction, Michel requested a retrial, alleging that one of his then-lawyers, David Kenner, mishandled his case by using AI to write closing arguments.—
Cite this Entry
“Manhandled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manhandled. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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