misuse
Americannoun
-
wrong or improper use; misapplication.
- Synonyms:
- misappropriation, misemployment
-
Obsolete. bad or abusive treatment.
verb (used with object)
-
to use wrongly or improperly; misapply.
-
to treat badly or abusively; maltreat.
noun
-
erroneous, improper, or unorthodox use
misuse of words
-
cruel or inhumane treatment
verb
-
to use wrongly
-
to treat badly or harshly
-
to use (something, esp alcohol, drugs, etc) improperly
Other Word Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
has misusedperfect 3rd person singular
-
have misusedperfect
-
has been misusingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
are misusingprogressive
-
is misusingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
am misusingprogressive 1st person singular
-
have been misusingperfect progressive
-
misusingparticiple
-
misusessingular 3rd person
Past
-
had misusedperfect
-
were misusingprogressive plural
-
was misusingprogressive singular
-
misusedparticiple
-
had been misusingperfect progressive
-
misusedsimple
Future
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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mis-
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Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Prefixes: 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.
Myanmar's state-run English-language newspaper, the Global New Light of Myanmar, has published a joint statement saying both countries underscored the need to prevent the misuse of Myanmar's territory for activities "inimical to their security interests".
From BBC • Jun. 2, 2026
This struck him as a monumental misuse of resources.
From Salon • Jun. 2, 2026
The court can dismiss trustees and rescind POAs when there is evidence of incompetence, negligence or misuse of a position.
From MarketWatch • May 25, 2026
She said she could only mitigate the damages, citing as examples cases that involved the city’s misuse of federal housing grants and a massive sewage spill.
From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2026
"Ares 4 hasn't even launched yet. Why misuse an MDV? Why not make something better?"
From "The Martian" by Andy Weir
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.
