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Synonyms

misemploy

American  
[mis-em-ploi] / ˌmɪs ɛmˈplɔɪ /

verb (used with object)

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


Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of misemploy

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

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:

But the Scottish Solomon who was on the alert, added another law restraining its cultivation 'to misuse and misemploy the soil of this fruitful Kingdom.'

From Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce by Billings, E. R.

You will not only misemploy your time for the present, but impede your power for the future.'

From The Adventures of Hugh Trevor by Holcroft, Thomas

To turn one of his colonels into my Spanish master would be seriously to misemploy his precious time.

From The Actress in High Life An Episode in Winter Quarters by Bowen, Sue Petigru

Yet, bred in errors, thou dost misemploy That strength heaven gave thee, and its flock destroy.

From The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 04 by Scott, Walter, Sir

V. misuse, misemploy, misapply, misappropriate. desecrate, abuse, profane, prostitute: waste &c.

From Roget's Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases by Roget, Peter Mark

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