misapplied

[ mis-uh-plahyd ]

adjective

Origin of misapplied

First recorded in 1620–30; mis-¹ + applied

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Of all the misused words in the lexicon of punditocracy, “courageous” is easily the word most often misapplied.
Pawlenty's Uncourageous Stand Against Ethanol | Michael Tomasky | May 24, 2011 | THE DAILY BEAST
The biological doctrine of evolution was misinterpreted and misapplied to social policy.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice | Stephen Leacock
Eric learned a great deal of harm from Upton, and the misapplied hero-worship led to bad results.
Eric, or Little by Little | Frederic W. Farrar
Could it be that Burleigh stood in need of all this money to cover other sums that he had misapplied?
Warrior Gap | Charles King
Your money may be ill spent, your charity misapplied, but your piety never.
Speeches, Addresses, and Occasional Sermons, Volume 2 (of 3) | Theodore Parker

Drawing of blood was first invented for good and salutary purposes, although often abused and misapplied.
The Works of Aristotle the Famous Philosopher | Anonymous

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