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Synonyms

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

"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

verb

  1. to use wrongly

  2. to treat badly or harshly

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

"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

Etymology

Origin of misuse

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It offers new measures against illicit finance and new authorities to address misuse.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

Many homes “inappropriately diagnosed residents with schizophrenia to mask the nursing homes’ misuse of antipsychotic drugs and to artificially inflate their star ratings,” it adds.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 7, 2026

Negotiations between the union and film and TV studios began in March, with union leaders prioritizing more robust healthcare benefits, streaming residuals and protections against the misuse of AI tools.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

These suits claim that developers created, or refused to provide, certain features that made them especially susceptible to harm and misuse.

From Slate • Mar. 30, 2026

She teased him about his misuse of commas—and fixed them for him.

From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.