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View synonyms for

misuse

[mis-yoos, mis-yooz]

noun

  1. wrong or improper use; misapplication.

    Synonyms: ,
  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

“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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of misuse1

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

Examples have not been reviewed.

Later that the day, she appeared to recant the remarks in a state TV interview, warning that they should "not be misused".

From

"It's clear that criminal organisations are misusing all these long routes," says Marc Vancoillie, head of Belgium's central directorate of drugs.

From

Even still to this day, the word "narcissist" gets misused to describe people who are merely snobbish or egotistical.

From

Musk had said the goal was to find evidence of fraud or misuse of government funds.

From

Justice Elena Kagan said Congress enacted the law in 2005 to prevent gun companies from being sued for harms “caused by the misuse of firearms by third parties, including criminals,” she said.

From

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