misuse
Americannoun
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wrong or improper use; misapplication.
- Synonyms:
- misappropriation, misemployment
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Obsolete. bad or abusive treatment.
verb (used with object)
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to use wrongly or improperly; misapply.
-
to treat badly or abusively; maltreat.
noun
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erroneous, improper, or unorthodox use
misuse of words
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cruel or inhumane treatment
verb
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to use wrongly
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to treat badly or harshly
-
to use (something, esp alcohol, drugs, etc) improperly
Etymology
Origin of misuse
Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at mis- 1, use
Explanation
Misuse is using something incorrectly or in a harmful way. I warned you that repeated misuse of your cellphone would break it — I can't believe you were texting in the shower! You can use this word as a noun or a verb, with just a slight change in pronunciation. As a noun, misuse rhymes moose. But when you misuse the money your parents gave you for groceries, spending it all on candy and comic books, misuse rhymes with confuse. A less-common meaning of the verb is "treat someone badly."
Vocabulary lists containing misuse
mis-
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Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Prefixes: mis-
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mis-
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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.
Her resignation shifts attention to Republican Cory Mills, who remains under investigation over allegations including sexual misconduct, campaign finance violations and misuse of his office, all of which he denies.
From Barron's • Apr. 21, 2026
A law firm that collapsed suddenly is being investigated over a "sophisticated suspected fraud" involving the "improper removal and misuse" of £39.5m of client funds, a regulator has said.
From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026
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
She had not had the advantage of a rigid Cambridge education only to be so foolish as to misuse it.
From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson
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.
