misuse

American  

[mis-yoos, mis-yooz] / mɪsˈyus, mɪsˈyuz /

noun

1. wrong or improper use; misapplication.

   Synonyms:

   misappropriation, misemployment

2. Obsolete. bad or abusive treatment.

---

verb (used with object)

misused, misusing

1. to use wrongly or improperly; misapply.

2. to treat badly or abusively; maltreat.

misuse British  

noun

1. erroneous, improper, or unorthodox use

   misuse of words

2. cruel or inhumane treatment

---

verb

1. to use wrongly

2. to treat badly or harshly

3. to use (something, esp alcohol, drugs, etc) improperly

Etymology

Origin of misuse

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; mis- ¹, use

Example Sentences

Leaders don’t get power if they don’t maneuver; but they misuse their power if they don’t also defer to the reality principle.

From The Wall Street Journal

And that's why developers must build systems that manage licensing and payments, and provide clear mechanisms for people to contest misuse, she adds.

From BBC

A spendthrift trust “prevents your child from selling, borrowing against, or misusing their inheritance,” Cote says.

From MarketWatch

It means more pressure on the former prince over claims that he misused his public role by giving official information to private associates, at a time when he was serving as the UK's trade envoy.

From BBC

In particular, it has focused on preventing those it believes are posed by more advanced frontier systems, such as them becoming misaligned with human values, misused in areas such as conflict or too powerful.

From BBC

Related Words

• corruption
• exploitation
• harm
• maltreatment
• mistreatment
• prostitution
• squandering
• waste