misappropriate
verb
mis·ap·pro·pri·ate
ˌmi-sə-ˈprō-prē-ˌāt 
misappropriated; misappropriating; misappropriates
: to appropriate wrongly (as by theft or embezzlement)
Examples of misappropriate in a Sentence
They accused him of misappropriating town funds.
a financial manager misappropriating funds from her clients' accounts
Recent Examples on the Web
Evidence that Girardi, a power broker in California politics and the law, had misappropriated millions of dollars in settlement money from the Indonesians led to the implosion of his law firm five years ago.
—
Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
He is also accused of deceiving escrow agents to secure the release of pre-construction condominium deposits and then misappropriating those funds for personal expenses unrelated to the developments.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 6 Mar. 2026
Federal investigators say Delgado lived a life of luxury — his recent property purchases include several multi-million-dollar homes in Central Florida — by misappropriating his investors’ money.
—Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026
In connection with his sentencing, prosecutors told the court that Girardi had misappropriated the Lion Air funds.
—City News Service, Daily News, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for misappropriate
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Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
He is also accused of deceiving escrow agents to secure the release of pre-construction condominium deposits and then misappropriating those funds for personal expenses unrelated to the developments.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 6 Mar. 2026
Federal investigators say Delgado lived a life of luxury — his recent property purchases include several multi-million-dollar homes in Central Florida — by misappropriating his investors’ money.
—Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026
In connection with his sentencing, prosecutors told the court that Girardi had misappropriated the Lion Air funds.
—City News Service, Daily News, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for misappropriate
Cite this Entry
“Misappropriate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misappropriate. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
misappropriate
verb
mis·ap·pro·pri·ate
ˌmis-ə-ˈprō-prē-ˌāt
: to appropriate wrongly
especially
: to take dishonestly for one's own use
Legal Definition
misappropriate
transitive verb
mis·ap·pro·pri·ate
ˌmi-sə-ˈprō-prē-ˌāt
: to appropriate wrongfully or unlawfully (as by theft or embezzlement)
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