misplace

[mis-pleys]

verb (used with object)

misplaced, misplacing 

1. to put in a wrong place.

2. to put in a place afterward forgotten; lose; mislay.

3. to place or bestow improperly, unsuitably, or unwisely.

   to misplace one's trust.

   Synonyms: misapply

misplace

/ ˌmɪsˈpleɪs /

verb

1. to put (something) in the wrong place, esp to lose (something) temporarily by forgetting where it was placed; mislay

2. (often passive) to bestow (trust, confidence, affection, etc) unadvisedly

Other Word Forms

• misplacement noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of misplace¹

First recorded in 1545–55; mis- ¹ + place

Synonym Study

See displace.

Example Sentences

Concerns about a potential dividend cut, similar to BCE’s, are misplaced, Valentini says.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"If some people have mistakenly inferred that this children's production has any content about the migrant situation which has sparked debate in the UK some nine years later, then their reaction is misplaced."

Read more on BBC

In the real world, people sometimes lose cognitive ability as they age, change address, have things misplaced by caregivers, etc.

Read more on MarketWatch

This fear of AI is misplaced, even dangerous.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“You’re misplaced!” the vendor says, as if I know what he’s talking about.

Read more on Literature

Related Words

• confuse 
• disorganize 
• disturb 
• unsettle