misuse

[ noun mis-yoos; verb mis-yooz ]

/ noun mɪsˈyus; verb mɪsˈyuz /

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See synonyms for: misuse / misused on Thesaurus.com

noun

wrong or improper use; misapplication.

Obsolete. bad or abusive treatment.

verb (used with object), mis·used, mis·us·ing.

to use wrongly or improperly; misapply.

to treat badly or abusively; maltreat.

OTHER WORDS FOR misuse

1 misemployment, misappropriation.

See synonyms for misuse on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of misuse

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

Words nearby misuse

misty-eyed, misunderstand, misunderstanding, misunderstood, misusage, misuse, misuser, misventure, misword, MIT, mita

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use misuse in a sentence

Now, the program’s biggest lender is investigating some of its own employees for aiding misuse of funds by customers.
JPMorgan flags potentially ‘illegal’ actions of employees and PPP loan recipients|Anne Sraders|September 8, 2020|Fortune
The risk of illegal actions and misuse of the government funds has been top of mind for government watchdogs, government officials, and the media since the program’s rollout in early April.
JPMorgan flags potentially ‘illegal’ actions of employees and PPP loan recipients|Anne Sraders|September 8, 2020|Fortune
The industry is expanding, and it should expand on the basis of the proper framework to regulate misuse.
Inside NSO, Israel’s billion-dollar spyware giant|Tate Ryan-Mosley|August 19, 2020|MIT Technology Review
It’s not a classic case of human rights abuse by a company, because we don’t operate the systems—we’re not involved in actual operations of the systems—but we understand there is a real risk of misuse from the customers.
Inside NSO, Israel’s billion-dollar spyware giant|Tate Ryan-Mosley|August 19, 2020|MIT Technology Review

The systems’ capabilities—as well as potential for misuse and abuse—will continue to grow by leaps and bounds.
There is a crisis of face recognition and policing in the US|Tate Ryan-Mosley|August 14, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Danczuk and fellow Labour MP Tom Watson have been demanding action to shine a light on allegations of the misuse of power.
Alleged U.K. Parliamentary Pedophile Ring Hushed Up for Decades|Nico Hines|July 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In other words, make fireworks less available for home misuse and develop an ever tougher crackdown on drunk drivers.
How Not to Blow Yourself Up on July 4th|Kent Sepkowitz|July 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The misuse of conscience exemptions is threatening our hard-won plurality.
How ‘Religious Freedom’ Is Hurting Everyone’s Freedom|Robert Shrum|March 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Zohydro is especially worrying because it contains no mechanism to deter misuse by snorting or injecting.
Is The Media Marketing Pain Pills to Addicts?|Maia Szalavitz|March 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The misuse of Sandy funds is not only morally indefensible but potentially criminal.
A Mob-Defying Former Mayor Knows Why New Jersey Is So Corrupt|Burt Ross|February 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Then you are a very bad trustee, thus to misuse the foot-way, and interrupt passengers.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
Even waste and misuse are regulated by education and experience where there is even a modicum of intelligence.
The Leaven in a Great City|Lillian William Betts
Aristotle and Plato laboured under a continual embarrassment from this misuse of terms.
A System of Logic: Ratiocinative and Inductive|John Stuart Mill
Misuse of a neural power machine, for one—and the domination and enslavement of a less advanced intelligent culture for another.
Pagan Passions|Gordon Randall Garrett
Since the Government has taken full charge of its forest domain, this misuse has stopped.
Our National Forests|Richard H. Douai Boerker

British Dictionary definitions for misuse

misuse

noun (ˌmɪsˈjuːs) misusage

erroneous, improper, or unorthodox usemisuse of words

cruel or inhumane treatment

verb (ˌmɪsˈjuːz) (tr)

to use wrongly

to treat badly or harshly

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

misuse

OTHER WORDS FOR misuse

Origin of misuse

Words nearby misuse

Words related to misuse

How to use misuse in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for misuse