Definition of Misuse

1. Noun. Improper or excessive use. "The abuse of public funds"

Exact synonyms: Abuse
Generic synonyms: Employment, Exercise, Usage, Use, Utilisation, Utilization
Specialized synonyms: Drug Abuse, Habit, Substance Abuse
Derivative terms: Abuse

2. Verb. Apply to a wrong thing or person; apply badly or incorrectly. "You are misapplying the name of this religious group"
Exact synonyms: Misapply
Generic synonyms: Apply, Employ, Use, Utilise, Utilize
Derivative terms: Misapplication

3. Verb. Change the inherent purpose or function of something. "The director of the factory misused the funds intended for the health care of his workers"
Exact synonyms: Abuse, Pervert
Specialized synonyms: Fracture, Take In Vain
Generic synonyms: Expend, Use
Derivative terms: Abuse, Perversion

Definition of Misuse

1. v. t. To treat or use improperly; to use to a bad purpose; to misapply; as, to misuse one's talents.

2. n. Wrong use; misapplication; erroneous or improper use.

Definition of Misuse

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

2. Verb. (transitive) To use (something) incorrectly. ¹

3. Verb. (transitive) To abuse or mistreat (something or someone). ¹

4. Verb. (obsolete transitive) To abuse verbally, to insult. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Misuse

1. to use incorrectly [v -USED, -USING, -USES]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Misuse

misunderestimating
misunderestimation
misunderestimations
misunderstand
misunderstandable
misunderstander
misunderstanders
misunderstanding
misunderstandings
misunderstands
misunderstood
misunion
misunions
misusage
misusages
misuse (current term)
misused
misuser
misusers
misuses
misusest
misuseth
misusing
misust
misutilization
misutilizations
misvalue
misvalued
misvalues
misvaluing

Literary usage of Misuse

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Behind the Corporate Veil: Using Corporate Entities for Illicit Purposesby Oecd, OECD Staff, (Paris) Organisation for Economic Co-ope by Oecd, OECD Staff, (Paris) Organisation for Economic Co-ope (2001)
"E. Structure of the Report Part I will examine the extent and means of misuse of corporate vehicles for illicit purposes. It will begin by discussing the ..."

2. The Treaty Making Power of the United States by Charles Henry Butler (1902)
"Discussion interesting, but necessarily academic; use and misuse of power.—Discussion in regard to the extent of tbe treaty-making power, and as to whether ..."

3. The Living Age by Making of America Project, Eliakim Littell, Robert S. Littell (1908)
"The subject is one that he has often handled,—the misuse of wealth by that small section of the community which possesses it in exceptional amounts. ..."

4. Publications of the American Statistical Association by American Statistical Association (1920)
"Few statistical devices are "foolproof," and the more delicate the device the more liable it is to misuse by the inexpert. Dr. King's indictment, however, ..."

5. Christian Missions and Social Progress: A Sociological Study of Foreign Missions by James Shepard Dennis (1897)
"The history of the world, however, shows what fearful misuse has been made of the governing power. The record of what the world has suffered from bad ..."

Other Resources:

Search for Misuse on Dictionary.com!Search for Misuse on Thesaurus.com!Search for Misuse on Google!Search for Misuse on Wikipedia!

Search