Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense misuses, present participle misusing, past tense, past participle misusedpronunciation note: The noun is pronounced (mɪsjuːs). The verb is pronounced (mɪsjuːz).
1. variable noun
The misuse of something is incorrect, careless, or dishonest use of it.
...the misuse of power and privilege. [+ of]
...a misuse of public funds.
The effectiveness of this class of drug has, however, led to their misuse.
2. verb
If someone misuses something, they use it incorrectly, carelessly, or dishonestly.
You are protected instantly if a thief misuses your credit card. [VERB noun]
She misused her position in the appointment of 26,000 party supporters to governmentjobs. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: abuse, misapply, misemploy, prostitute [old-fashioned, derogatory] More Synonyms of misuse
More Synonyms of misuse
misuse in British English
noun (ˌmɪsˈjuːs) also: misusage
1.
erroneous, improper, or unorthodox use
misuse of words
2.
cruel or inhumane treatment
verb (ˌmɪsˈjuːz)(transitive)
3.
to use wrongly
4.
to treat badly or harshly
5.
to use (something, esp alcohol, drugs, etc) improperly
misuse in American English
(mɪsˈjuz; for n., mɪsˈjus; ˈmɪsˌjus)
verb transitiveWord forms: misˈused or misˈusing
1.
to use incorrectly or improperly
2.
to treat badly or harshly; abuse
noun
3.
incorrect or improper use
4. Obsolete
bad or harsh treatment
Examples of 'misuse' in a sentence
misuse
Privacy groups have called for measures to tackle misuse of the vast quantities of sensitive data.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This misuse of public money is not a new travesty.
The Sun (2016)
The West has promised to give them technical help to tackle misuse of the drugs.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The compensation has provoked claims of misusing public funds and demeaning the value of a disabled person's life.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The powers had been misused but we need more stop and search.
The Sun (2008)
But we still man the barricades against misuse of the language as robustly as we can.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Such cases usually involve allegations of the misuse of confidential information.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The misuse of money blocks more ministry in the local church than any other single cause.
Christianity Today (2000)
He will also be concerned at the extent of drug misuse.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
But our mistrust of language is only our misuse of language.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Outside investors also have a habit of complaining when they perceive their money is being misused.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It is unlikely that many employers would treat a first misuse as gross misconduct unless the action was justifiable.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
He is the focus of probes into alleged misuse of a government credit card and importing explosive devices without a permit.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It concluded that youngsters' addiction to phones is similar to compulsive credit card misuse.
The Sun (2012)
Misuse of alcohol and drugs are key factors behind offending by veterans and a high proportion of crimes are linked to domestic violence.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The current points system isn't enough and is open to gross misuse.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Worse, those who are better informed are clearly misusing information for their own purposes.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Rather, it is that the process of government was misused.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The association said that the Services should do more to tackle alcohol misuse as well as provide programmes to deal with domestic violence.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
misuse
British English: misuse NOUN
The misuse of something is incorrect, careless, or dishonest use of it.
...the misuse of power and privilege.
American English: misuse
Brazilian Portuguese: uso impróprio
Chinese: 误用
European Spanish: mal uso
French: abus
German: Missbrauch
Italian: abuso
Japanese: 悪用
Korean: 오용
European Portuguese: uso impróprio
Latin American Spanish: mal uso
British English: misuse VERB
If someone misuses something, they use it incorrectly, carelessly, or dishonestly.
You are protected instantly if a thief misuses your credit card.
American English: misuse
Brazilian Portuguese: empregar mal
Chinese: 误用
European Spanish: usar incorrectamente
French: utiliser à mauvais escient
German: missbrauchen
Italian: abusare di
Japanese: 悪用する
Korean: 오용하다
European Portuguese: empregar mal
Latin American Spanish: usar incorrectamente
Chinese translation of 'misuse'
misuse
(nmɪsˈjuːs; vbmɪsˈjuːz)
n(c/u)
滥(濫)用 (lànyòng)
vt
误(誤)用 (wùyòng)
1 (noun)
Definition
incorrect, improper, or careless use
the misuse of public funds
Synonyms
waste
The whole project is a complete waste of time and resources.
embezzlement
squandering
dissipation
the dissipation of my wealth
fraudulent use
misemployment
misusage
2 (noun)
Definition
incorrect, improper, or careless use
the misuse of power
Synonyms
abuse
an abuse of power
corruption
exploitation
the exploitation of the corporation's workforce
3 (noun)
Definition
incorrect, improper, or careless use
the misuse of technology in sport
Synonyms
misapplication
abuse
illegal use
wrong use
4 (noun)
Definition
incorrect, improper, or careless use
Fundamentalism is a deplorable misuse of a faith.
Synonyms
perversion
a monstrous perversion of justice
distortion
He accused reporters of wilful distortion.
desecration
The whole area has been shocked by the desecration of the cemetery.
profanation
5 (noun)
Definition
incorrect, improper, or careless use
his hilarious misuse of words
Synonyms
misapplication
solecism
malapropism
catachresis
6 (noun)
Definition
cruel or inhumane treatment
the history of the misuse of indigenous peoples
Synonyms
mistreatment
police brutality and mistreatment of people in prisons
abuse
an investigation into alleged animal abuse
harm
exploitation
injury
manhandling
ill-treatment
Some had died as a result of ill-treatment.
maltreatment
The hospital shut down as a result of maltreatment of its patients.
rough handling
inhumane treatment
cruel treatment
ill-usage
1 (verb)
Definition
to use wrongly
She misused her position in the government.
Synonyms
abuse
He showed how the rich and powerful can abuse their position.
misapply
The law has been misapplied.
misemploy
prostitute (old-fashioned, derogatory)
His friends said that he had prostituted his talents.
2 (verb)
The committee has cleared leaders of misusing funds.
Synonyms
waste
We can't afford to waste money on another holiday.
squander
He had squandered his chances to win.
dissipate
Her father had dissipated her inheritance.
embezzle
The director embezzled $34 million in company funds.
misappropriate
I have not misappropriated any funds whatsoever.
3 (verb)
Definition
to treat badly or harshly
His parents should not have misused him.
Synonyms
mistreat
I have been mistreated by people in the past.
abuse
People responsible for abusing prisoners must be held accountable.
injure
harm
I removed the splinter carefully, anxious not to harm him further.
exploit
Casual workers are being exploited for very low wages.
wrong
She felt she had been wronged.
molest
He was accused of sexually molesting a colleague.
manhandle
ill-treat
The rescued hostages said they had not been ill-treated.
brutalize
maltreat
He was not maltreated during his detention.
ill-use
handle roughly
Opposites
respect
,
honour
,
cherish
,
prize
,
appreciate
,
treasure
4 (verb)
breaking a taboo, misusing a sacred ceremony
Synonyms
profane
They have profaned the traditions of the Church.
corrupt
Cruelty depraves and corrupts.
desecrate
She shouldn't have desecrated the picture of a religious leader
pervert
attempting to pervert the course of justice
Additional synonyms
in the sense of corrupt
Definition
to make corrupt
Cruelty depraves and corrupts.
Synonyms
deprave,
pervert,
subvert,
debase,
demoralize,
debauch
in the sense of desecrate
Definition
to violate the sacred character of (an object or place)
She shouldn't have desecrated the picture of a religious leader
Synonyms
profane,
dishonour,
defile,
violate,
contaminate,
pollute,
pervert,
despoil,
blaspheme,
commit sacrilege
in the sense of desecration
The whole area has been shocked by the desecration of the cemetery.
Synonyms
violation,
blasphemy,
sacrilege,
debasement,
defilement,
impiety,
profanation
Synonyms of 'misuse'
misuse
Explore 'misuse' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of dissipate
Definition
to waste or squander
Her father had dissipated her inheritance.
Synonyms
squander,
spend,
waste,
consume,
run through,
deplete,
expend,
fritter away,
misspend,
exhaust,
consume,
scatter
in the sense of dissipation
Definition
the process of dissipating
the dissipation of my wealth
Synonyms
waste,
spending,
squandering,
blowing (slang),
consumption,
throwing away,
misuse,
frittering away,
misspending
in the sense of distortion
He accused reporters of wilful distortion.
Synonyms
misrepresentation,
bias,
slant,
perversion,
falsification,
colouring
in the sense of embezzle
Definition
to steal (money) that belongs to the company or organization that one works for
The director embezzled $34 million in company funds.
Synonyms
misappropriate,
steal,
appropriate,
rob,
pocket,
nick (slang, British),
trouser (slang),
pinch (informal),
rip off (slang),
knock off (slang),
siphon off,
pilfer,
purloin (formal),
filch,
help yourself to,
thieve,
defalcate,
peculate
in the sense of exploit
Definition
to take advantage of a person or situation for one's own ends
Casual workers are being exploited for very low wages.
Synonyms
take advantage of,
abuse,
use,
manipulate,
milk,
misuse,
dump on (slang),
ill-treat,
shit on (taboo, slang),
play on or upon
in the sense of exploitation
the exploitation of the corporation's workforce
Synonyms
misuse,
abuse,
manipulation,
imposition,
using,
ill-treatment
in the sense of harm
Definition
to injure physically, morally, or mentally
I removed the splinter carefully, anxious not to harm him further.
Synonyms
injure,
hurt,
wound,
abuse,
molest,
ill-treat,
maltreat,
lay a finger on,
ill-use
in the sense of ill-treat
Definition
to treat cruelly or harshly
The rescued hostages said they had not been ill-treated.
Synonyms
abuse,
injure,
harm,
wrong,
damage,
harry,
harass,
misuse,
oppress,
dump on (slang),
mishandle,
shit on (taboo, slang),
maltreat,
ill-use,
handle roughly,
knock about or around
in the sense of ill-treatment
Some had died as a result of ill-treatment.
Synonyms
abuse,
harm,
mistreatment,
damage,
injury,
misuse,
ill-use,
rough handling
in the sense of maltreat
Definition
to treat badly, cruelly, or violently
He was not maltreated during his detention.
Synonyms
abuse,
damage,
hurt,
injure,
harm,
bully,
mistreat,
ill-treat,
handle roughly
Additional synonyms
in the sense of maltreatment
The hospital shut down as a result of maltreatment of its patients.
Synonyms
abuse,
bullying,
mistreatment,
injury,
harm,
ill-treatment,
rough handling,
ill-usage
in the sense of misapply
Definition
to use something for a purpose for which it is not intended or is not suited
The law has been misapplied.
Synonyms
misuse,
abuse,
pervert,
misappropriate,
misemploy
in the sense of misappropriate
Definition
to take and use money dishonestly
I have not misappropriated any funds whatsoever.
Synonyms
steal,
embezzle,
pocket,
misuse,
knock off (slang),
swindle,
misspend,
trouser (slang),
misapply,
defalcate,
cabbage (British, slang),
peculate
in the sense of molest
Definition
to accost or attack someone, esp. a woman or child, with the intention of assaulting her or him sexually
He was accused of sexually molesting a colleague.
Synonyms
abuse,
attack,
hurt,
injure,
harm,
interfere with,
assail,
accost,
manhandle,
ill-treat,
maltreat
in the sense of pervert
Definition
to interpret wrongly or badly
attempting to pervert the course of justice
Synonyms
distort,
abuse,
twist,
misuse,
warp,
misinterpret,
misrepresent,
falsify,
misconstrue
in the sense of prostitute
Definition
to offer (oneself or one's talent) for unworthy purposes
His friends said that he had prostituted his talents.