misapply
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
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to apply wrongly or badly
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another word for misappropriate
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of misapply
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.
See Examples For:
"The district court’s consideration of the FTC's primary claim at trial shows that the court did not misapply the law," Microsoft said.
From Reuters ● Jul. 14, 2023
"Through this deception, Murdaugh was able to embezzle and/or fraudulently misapply the funds that were intended to be paid to Tony and Brian," the filing says.
From Fox News ● Sep. 28, 2021
Legal scholars say the Founding Fathers, who were themselves accused of treason by the British, sought to clearly articulate it because they knew the potential to misapply it to legitimate dissent.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 12, 2021
More troubling, VA staffers routinely misapply the law, misread military records and reject evidence that veterans qualify for treatment.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 8, 2019
“Upon my word, Emma, to hear you abusing the reason you have, is almost enough to make me think so too. Better be without sense, than misapply it as you do.”
From "Emma" by Jane Austen
"It is a textbook case of science misapplied and ethics ignored," Shahzad Gani and Krishna Achutarao wrote in The Hindu newspaper.
From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2025
Yoo’s record reminds us that the law can be misapplied and used as an enabler, rather than as a restraint on unlawful power.
From Salon ● Jul. 17, 2024
The city of Grants Pass did so in this case November, arguing that the smaller panel had misapplied the law and allowed homelessness to spread.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2023
"The policy was either misapplied or it revealed that there is a problem with the policy and that there is no whistleblower provision," she said.
From BBC ● May 16, 2023
The elementary-school topic of percentages is continually being misapplied.
From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos
These include mass layoffs, angry and alienated customers, and the destruction of a huge amount of value at companies that are misapplying it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 21, 2026
I also have concerns about misapplying and diluting these powerful terms.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 7, 2022
The NBA said the officials — crew chief James Capers, Kevin Scott and John Butler — were disciplined for misapplying the challenge rule.
From Reuters ● Dec. 9, 2019
Such errors could include wrongly admitting or excluding evidence, ruling incorrectly on substantive motions, misapplying discovery rules, or making legally incorrect decisions.
From Slate ● Apr. 18, 2018
Malapropism, mal′a-prop-izm, n. the act of misapplying words, in the attempt to use fine language, from Mrs Malaprop in Sheridan's play, The Rivals.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various
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.
