To treat ill; to abuse; to treat roughly.
Mal meaning bad.
In my opinion, to maltreat children is a sinister sin.
Respect
The candidate pledged to shut down any factory or manufacturing plant found to maltreat workers.
Abuse, harm, "maltreat", to wrong...
Simple. It means treating them badly.
Mistreat refers to mishandling or abusing an item or person. For example, throwing an antique bowl around may be classed as mistreating it. Alternatives include ill-treat, misuse, brutalize and maltreat.
abuse, ill-treat, ill-use, maltreat, manhandle, mishandle, mistreat, misuse.
manhandle, abuse, batter, beat, bung up, knock about, maltreat, mangle, maul,
It means badly or poorly. For example, maltreat (treat badly), maladjusted (poorly adjusted).
to persecute - to harass systematically or ill-treat habitually over a period of time (often on grounds of race, religion, ideology, lifestyle); used especially for systematic ill treatment by governments and other official bodies.persecute: afflict, maltreat, oppress, tyrannize
The word punish is a verb. Some words that mean punish are chastise, batter, whip, beat up, castigate, and misuse. Additional synonyms are spank, rough up, incarcerate, and maltreat.