misemploy

[mis-em-ploi]

See more synonyms for misemploy on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to use for the wrong purpose; use wrongly or improperly; misuse.

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Origin of misemploy

First recorded in 1600–10; mis-¹ + employ

Related formsmis·em·ploy·ment, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

corrupt exploit pervert squander mistreat debase demean misuse blow exhaust drain consume lavish deplete dissipate lose divert undermine err botch

Examples from the Web for misemploy

Historical Examples

To turn one of his colonels into my Spanish master would be seriously to misemploy his precious time.
The Actress in High Life
Sue Petigru Bowen