misplace

[mis-pleys]

See more synonyms for misplace on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), mis·placed, mis·plac·ing.

to put in a wrong place.
to put in a place afterward forgotten; lose; mislay.
to place or bestow improperly, unsuitably, or unwisely: to misplace one's trust.

Origin of misplace

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

Related formsmis·place·ment, noun

Synonyms

See more synonyms for misplace on Thesaurus.com

3. misapply.

Synonym study

1, 2. See displace.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for misplaced

Contemporary Examples

Other major news outlets made the same decision, hiding behind a misplaced sense of multicultural sensitivity.
Why We Stand With Charlie Hebdo—And You Should Too
John Avlon
January 8, 2015
Certainly the speech suggests that American hopes of persuading Turkey to come fully on board are misplaced.
Turkish President Declares Lawrence of Arabia a Bigger Enemy than ISIS
Jamie Dettmer
October 13, 2014
In fact, the only shade of reaction besides enthusiasm Carter and Knight got to the project was some misplaced confusion.
'Nick & Knight': Nick Carter and Jordan Knight Are Your New Boy Band Power Couple
Kevin Fallon
September 4, 2014
The right is making a false equivalency that is misplaced.
Valerie Plame: Kabul CIA Station Chief’s Outing Was ‘Colossally Stupid’
Eleanor Clift
May 29, 2014
The hysteria surrounding these deaths, Sarah believes, is misplaced.
Molly: The Dangerous Drug That’s Too Good to Quit
Abby Haglage
September 8, 2013

Historical Examples

With a man of that sort scrupulousness was a misplaced and even an illegal sentiment.
The Secret Agent
Joseph Conrad
I am happy to believe that my confidence in that great nation was not misplaced.
Life And Adventures Of Martin Chuzzlewit
Charles Dickens
They are misplaced between us,' returned the other, waving his hand, 'and say plainly what we have to say.
Barnaby Rudge
Charles Dickens
We are tired of wings that are really nothing but horns, misshaped and misplaced.
The Book of Khalid
Ameen Rihani
The "a" was misplaced, the "W" minus its lower right-hand corner.
The Film of Fear
Arnold Fredericks

British Dictionary definitions for misplaced

misplace

verb (tr)

to put (something) in the wrong place, esp to lose (something) temporarily by forgetting where it was placed; mislay
(often passive) to bestow (trust, confidence, affection, etc) unadvisedly

Derived Formsmisplacement, 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 misplaced

misplace

v.

1550s, "to assign a wrong position to;" see mis- (1) + place (v.). Of affections, confidence, etc., "to give to a wrong object," it is recorded from 1630s. Related: Misplaced; misplacing.

misplace

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Synonyms

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for misplaced

Contemporary Examples

Other major news outlets made the same decision, hiding behind a misplaced sense of multicultural sensitivity.

Certainly the speech suggests that American hopes of persuading Turkey to come fully on board are misplaced.

In fact, the only shade of reaction besides enthusiasm Carter and Knight got to the project was some misplaced confusion.

The right is making a false equivalency that is misplaced.

The hysteria surrounding these deaths, Sarah believes, is misplaced.

Historical Examples

With a man of that sort scrupulousness was a misplaced and even an illegal sentiment.

I am happy to believe that my confidence in that great nation was not misplaced.

They are misplaced between us,' returned the other, waving his hand, 'and say plainly what we have to say.

We are tired of wings that are really nothing but horns, misshaped and misplaced.

The "a" was misplaced, the "W" minus its lower right-hand corner.

misplace

Word Origin and History for misplaced

misplace

v.

Origin of misplace