Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

misgovern

American  
[mis-guhv-ern] / mɪsˈgʌv ərn /

verb (used with object)

  1. to govern or manage badly.


misgovern British  
/ ˌmɪsˈɡʌvən /

verb

  1. to govern badly

"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

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of misgovern

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

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:

Rather than occupy hostile territories, powerful countries prefer to exert influence from across the border while letting the foreign population misgovern itself.

From Slate Mar. 27, 2014

For the sake of dishonorable peace they leave these native states to misgovern themselves and stink to high heaven!

From Rung Ho! by Talbot Mundy

I am an American in my principles, and wish we could let them alone, to govern or misgovern themselves as they think proper.

From The Campaign of 1776 around New York and Brooklyn by Henry P. Johnston

For, to misgovern well, one must open his purse as often as he forces the purses of others.

From The Book of Khalid by Ameen Fares Rihani

The colony was now entirely free to manage its own affairs, well or ill, to misgovern itself if it chose to do so.

From The Winning of Popular Government A Chronicle of the Union of 1841 by Archibald MacMechan

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 14,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training