misgovern

[ mis-guhv-ern ]

See synonyms for misgovern on Thesaurus.com

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

Other words from misgovern

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

Words Nearby misgovern

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

How to use misgovern in a sentence

The ruling power cannot be withdrawn from those to whom it has been committed; nor can they be punished for misgovern-ment.
Ancient and Modern Celebrated Freethinkers | Charles Bradlaugh, A. Collins, and J. Watts
For the sake of dishonorable peace they leave these native states to misgovern themselves and stink to high heaven!
Rung Ho! | Talbot Mundy
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

British Dictionary definitions for misgovern

misgovern

/ (ˌmɪsˈɡʌvən) /

verb

to govern badly

Derived forms of misgovern

misgovernment, noun
misgovernor, 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

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