misuse

[mis-yoos, mis-yooz]

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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of misuse¹

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

Example Sentences

Police accusations to date have been limited to suspicion of fraud, breach of trust, obstruction of justice and misuse of office by Gen. Tomer-Yerushalmi.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Second, companies must disclose incidents of AI misuse within 72 hours.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A person familiar with IDG Capital’s operations said it has noticed IDG Capital Vietnam misusing its name on several occasions and didn’t authorize its use.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Loyola Law School professor Jessica Levinson, a former Ethics Commission president, said the agency responds seriously to allegations that city resources have been misused for campaign purposes.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Mr Bevan also said more needed to be done to clamp down on misuse of the bikes.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• corruption 
• exploitation 
• harm 
• maltreatment 
• mistreatment www.thesaurus.com
• prostitution 
• squandering www.thesaurus.com
• waste