misuse
Americannoun
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wrong or improper use; misapplication.
- Synonyms:
- misappropriation, misemployment
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Obsolete. bad or abusive treatment.
verb (used with object)
-
to use wrongly or improperly; misapply.
-
to treat badly or abusively; maltreat.
noun
-
erroneous, improper, or unorthodox use
misuse of words
-
cruel or inhumane treatment
verb
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to use wrongly
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to treat badly or harshly
-
to use (something, esp alcohol, drugs, etc) improperly
Etymology
Origin of misuse
Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at mis- 1, use
Explanation
Misuse is using something incorrectly or in a harmful way. I warned you that repeated misuse of your cellphone would break it — I can't believe you were texting in the shower! You can use this word as a noun or a verb, with just a slight change in pronunciation. As a noun, misuse rhymes moose. But when you misuse the money your parents gave you for groceries, spending it all on candy and comic books, misuse rhymes with confuse. A less-common meaning of the verb is "treat someone badly."
Vocabulary lists containing misuse
mis-
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mis-
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Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Prefixes: mis-
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In its online advice, the RAC added: "Misuse of a car horn is illegal and can result in fines for the driver and owner of the vehicle."
From BBC • May 23, 2026
Shila Bodmer, Leroy and Bonner have been charged with conspiracy to commit an offence under the Criminal Law Act and the Computer Misuse Act.
From BBC • May 19, 2026
The police said that the boy had been arrested "on suspicion of offences under Sections 1, 2 and 3A of the Computer Misuse Act 1990".
From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026
"Digital platforms are not exempt from the law," Zawedde said, adding that the Computer Misuse Act applied fully to online conduct, including the spread of false information and offensive communication.
From BBC • Jan. 5, 2026
Misuse, with her, is as mortal a sin as abuse.
From Natural Law in the Spiritual World by Drummond, Henry
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
