misused; misusing; misuses
1
: to use incorrectly : misapply
misused his talents
a word that is frequently misused
was charged withmisusing company funds
misuser
noun
plural misusers
: incorrect or improper use : misapplication
the misuse of words
a misuse of power
Examples of misuse in a Sentence
Verb
She's charged with misusing company funds.
a word that is frequently misused
Noun
No refunds will be offered on products damaged by misuse.
the warranty for this dryer is null and void if you subject the product to deliberate misuse
Recent Examples on the Web
Thalia Beaty, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Still, parents are left wondering how much other inappropriate conduct continues to take place in our public schools and how many children are still at the hands of adults who would misuse their power and authority.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026
Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 Jan. 2026
She was found guilty of crimes related to her deception of public officials during that plot and the misuse of her position, not for offenses related to her views on voter fraud, the Court of Appeals panel noted during oral argument.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for misuse
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
Despite the size of her gifts, which now often exceed the recipient organization’s annual budget, research from the Center for Effective Philanthropy has found that concerns about nonprofits misusing Scott’s funds or growing unsustainably have largely not been born out.
—Thalia Beaty, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Still, parents are left wondering how much other inappropriate conduct continues to take place in our public schools and how many children are still at the hands of adults who would misuse their power and authority.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026
Noun
The team suggests potential applications in education and elder care, while emphasizing careful design to avoid misuse.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 Jan. 2026
She was found guilty of crimes related to her deception of public officials during that plot and the misuse of her position, not for offenses related to her views on voter fraud, the Court of Appeals panel noted during oral argument.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for misuse
Cite this Entry
“Misuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misuse. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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