misgovern

[mis-guhv-ern]

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verb (used with object)

to govern or manage badly.

Origin of misgovern

First recorded in 1375–1425, misgovern is from the late Middle English word misgovernen. See mis-¹, govern

Related formsmis·gov·ern·ment, mis·gov·ern·ance, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for misgovern

err, botch, flub, muff, fumble, mistreat, misuse, bungle, misdirect, misinterpret, mishandle, blow, goof, harm, pervert, overlook, blunder, confound, abuse, misapply

Examples from the Web for misgovern

Historical Examples of misgovern

For, to misgovern well, one must open his purse as often as he forces the purses of others.
The Book of Khalid
Ameen Rihani
We may govern ourselves as we please, we may misgovern ourselves as we please.
The Last Voyage
Lady (Annie Allnutt) Brassey
The bulk of the proceeds fell into the hands of the clergy and the hidalgos sent out to rob and misgovern the islands.
The Philippine Islands
Ramon Reyes Lala
For the sake of dishonorable peace they leave these native states to misgovern themselves and stink to high heaven!
Rung Ho!
Talbot Mundy

British Dictionary definitions for misgovern

misgovern

verb

to govern badly

Derived Formsmisgovernment, nounmisgovernor, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for misgovern

c.1400, from mis- (1) + govern. Related: Misgoverned; misgoverning.