misemploy

verb

mis·​em·​ploy ˌmis-im-ˈplȯi How to pronounce misemploy (audio)
-em-
misemployed; misemploying

transitive verb

: to use (something) in a wrong or harmful way
The series also tells the story of the fantastic scientific achievements of the time, achievements which would later be misemployed by Hitler's war machine.Continental Choice
misemployment noun
plural misemployments
the misemployment of her time and talents

Word History

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of misemploy was in 1594

Dictionary Entries Near misemploy

Cite this Entry

“Misemploy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misemploy. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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