misplace

verb mis·place \ ˌmis-ˈplās \

|Updated on: 10 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: misplace in a Sentence

Definition of misplace

transitive verb

1 a : to put in a wrong or inappropriate place

misplace a comma

b : mislay

misplaced the keys

2 : to set on a wrong object or eventuality

his trust had been misplaced

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misplacement

play \-ˈplās-mənt\ noun

See misplace defined for English-language learners

See misplace defined for kids

Examples of misplace in a Sentence

I seem to have misplaced my keys.

Recent Examples of misplace from the Web

Everyone can remember the instant panic of misplacing a favorite stuffed animal.

— caroline blackmon, Detroit Free Press, "Family needs help finding teddy bear lost at Sleeping Bear Dunes," 28 June 2018
On reddit, stories abound of investors who've misplaced their cold wallets or the access codes needed to open them.

— brian fung, latimes.com, "Why bitcoin exchanges keep getting hacked — and how to protect yourself," 21 June 2018
There is a case to be made that the U.S. Open golf championship has misplaced its mojo.

— ron green jr., charlotteobserver, "5 storylines for the U.S. Open as ‘brutal’ Shinnecock Hills awaits," 13 June 2018
For years, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has received thousands of complaints about servicers misplacing paperwork, providing inconsistent information or charging unexpected fees.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "Education Department tells student loan companies to ignore state authority," 9 Mar. 2018
The president himself has embraced the corollary idea to Coulter’s claim that the screaming families are actors: that the compassion for them is misplaced.

— megan garber, The Atlantic, "How to Look Away," 20 June 2018
There is no federal law that mandates children and parents be separated at the border, though the practice has so far led to nearly 2,000 kids being misplaced in six weeks — a phenomenon that has triggered a firestorm of controversy.

— tresa baldas, Detroit Free Press, "Torn from immigrant parents, 8-month-old baby lands in Michigan," 20 June 2018
But whether that loyalty is misplaced is debatable.

— paul sullivan, chicagotribune.com, "White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu comfortable playing in the shadows," 31 May 2018
Rzhevskaya was entrusted with the set of Hitler's teeth because, by her account, it was feared that male members of the Red Army would get drunk and misplace them.

— jefferson chase, USA TODAY, "Hitler's teeth analysis dispels myths of Nazi leader's survival," 21 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'misplace.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of misplace

1555

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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misplace Synonyms

MISPLACE Defined for English Language Learners

misplace

verb

Definition of misplace for English Language Learners

: to put (something) in the wrong place
: to lose (something) for a short time by forgetting where you put it
: to direct (a feeling, such as trust or confidence) toward someone or something that does not deserve it