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misgovern

[mis-guhv-ern]
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR misgovern ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to govern or manage badly.

RELATED WORDS

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

Nearby words

  1. misfortune,
  2. misfunction,
  3. misgender,
  4. misgive,
  5. misgiving,
  6. misgovernance,
  7. misgovernment,
  8. misguidance,
  9. misguide,
  10. misguided

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

Examples from the Web for misgovern

  • 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

  • We may govern ourselves as we please, we may misgovern ourselves as we please.

    The Last Voyage|Lady (Annie Allnutt) Brassey

  • 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
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

misgovern

v.

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

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper