misuse — English Dictionary

Noun

1. An incorrect, improper or unlawful use of something.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   The Queen may be celebrating her jubilee but the Queen's English Society, which has railed against the misuse and deterioration of the English language, is to fold.

Verb

1. To use (something) incorrectly.

   Usage

   • Transitive

2. To abuse or mistreat (something or someone).

   Usage

   • Transitive

3. To rape (a woman); later more generally, to sexually abuse (someone).

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Synonyms

   abuseoutrageviolate

   Examples

   “If that is true she would be the first case I have ever heard of, as most female captives are misused by the entire tribe.”

4. To abuse verbally, to insult.

   Usage

   • Obsolete
   • Transitive

   Examples

   Socrates was brought upon the stage by Aristophanes, and misused to his face: but he laughed, as if it concerned him not […].

Noun

1. improper or excessive use

   Synonyms

   abuse

   Broader terms

   useusageutilizationutilisationemploymentexercise

   Examples

   alcohol abuse

   the abuse of public funds

Verb

1. apply to a wrong thing or person; apply badly or incorrectly

   Synonyms

   misapply

   Broader terms

   useutilizeutiliseapplyemploy

   Examples

   The words are misapplied in this context

   You are misapplying the name of this religious group

2. change the inherent purpose or function of something

   Synonyms

   pervertabuse

   Broader terms

   consumeeat upuse upeatdepleteexhaustrun throughwipe outuseexpend

   Examples

   Don't abuse the system

   The director of the factory misused the funds intended for the health care of his workers