misuse

¹mis·use

verb \-ˈyüz\

Definition of MISUSE

transitive verb

1

: to use incorrectly : misapply <misused his talents>

2

: abuse, mistreat <misused his servants>

— mis·us·er noun

Examples of MISUSE

1. She's charged with misusing company funds.
2. a word that is frequently misused

Origin of MISUSE

Middle English, partly from mis- + usen to use; partly from Middle French mesuser to abuse, from Old French, from mes- + user to use

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to MISUSE

Synonyms: abuse, misemploy, misapply, pervert, profane, prostitute

Related Words: degrade, twist; mismanage; corrupt, debase, desecrate

Near Antonyms: apply, employ, use, utilize; respect

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with MISUSE

abuse, accuse, amuse, Andrews, bad news, bemuse, berceuse, chanteuse, charmeuse, chartreuse, coiffeuse, confuse, contuse, danseuse, defuse, diffuse, diseuse, disuse, effuse, enthuse, excuse, ill-use, incuse, infuse, masseuse, perfuse, peruse, recluse, recuse, refuse, reuse, short fuse, suffuse, Toulouse, transfuse, vendeuse