misgovern

[ mis-guhv-ern ]
See synonyms for misgovern on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object)
  1. to govern or manage badly.

Origin of misgovern

1
First recorded in 1375–1425, misgovern is from the late Middle English word misgovernen.See mis-1, govern

Other words from misgovern

  • mis·gov·ern·ment, mis·gov·ern·ance, noun

Words Nearby misgovern

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use misgovern in a sentence

  • The ruling power cannot be withdrawn from those to whom it has been committed; nor can they be punished for misgovern-ment.

    Ancient and Modern Celebrated Freethinkers | Charles Bradlaugh, A. Collins, and J. Watts
  • For the sake of dishonorable peace they leave these native states to misgovern themselves and stink to high heaven!

    Rung Ho! | Talbot Mundy
  • For, to misgovern well, one must open his purse as often as he forces the purses of others.

    The Book of Khalid | Ameen Rihani
  • We may govern ourselves as we please, we may misgovern ourselves as we please.

    The Last Voyage | Lady (Annie Allnutt) Brassey
  • The bulk of the proceeds fell into the hands of the clergy and the hidalgos sent out to rob and misgovern the islands.

    The Philippine Islands | Ramon Reyes Lala

British Dictionary definitions for misgovern

misgovern

/ (ˌmɪsˈɡʌvən) /


verb
  1. to govern badly

Derived forms of misgovern

  • misgovernment, noun
  • misgovernor, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012