Maltreat – Treat (a person or thing) cruelly or with violence
(Pronounced mal-treet)
To remember the definition of the word maltreat, use the following mnemonic:
She used a mallet on the patients who came in for treatment (maltreat) - it was cruel and violent.
Examples of maltreat in a sentence
It wasn't just foxes who suffered at the hands of hunters, they would maltreat their horses and hounds too.
She would often maltreat her children even though she seemed like a lovely person.
Don't maltreat people or you won't have any friends.