misused; misusing; misuses
1
: to use incorrectly : misapply
misused his talents
a word that is frequently misused
misuser
noun
plural misusers
: incorrect or improper use : misapplication
Synonyms
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
USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
The merits of the PUC’s plan notwithstanding, the issue is also a classic example of how the annual budget process is misused to enact major policy changes without fully airing their impacts.
—Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024
If scientific findings are sensationalized by journalists, oversimplified by authors, and misused by political actors, what are scientists supposed to do?
—William Deresiewicz, The Atlantic, 2 Apr. 2024
Their messages allege Lewis misused taxpayer money, contributed to a hostile workplace and is knowingly using inaccurate tabulators.
—Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 29 Mar. 2024
The six-person city council unanimously voted to censure the mayor over two things: misusing a city plow for personal gain and improperly using a city vehicle.
—Jolene Almendarez, The Enquirer, 28 Mar. 2024
However, Whitehead misused the funds for personal expenses, including luxury purchases from Louis Vuitton and Foot Locker.
—Melissa Noel, Essence, 15 Mar. 2024
Santos has pleaded not guilty to 23 federal charges, including allegations of fraud related to Covid-19 unemployment benefits, misusing campaign funds and lying about his personal finances on House disclosure reports.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 22 Mar. 2024
But the small bluetooth devices that owners attach to their key chains or keep in their bags and purses to locate their personal belongings, have been misused by stalkers who are tracking their targets' every move.
—CBS News, 20 Mar. 2024
Nick Rockel, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024
The budget at one L.A. school, Dixie Canyon Elementary in Sherman Oaks, has been cited by Prop. 28 advocates as an example of alleged misuse of the funding.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2024
Less than two years later, in July 2023, multiple immigration advocacy groups filed a complaint with oversight agencies against ICE over alleged misuse of the practice.
—Cailey Gleeson, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Some social media users reacted by highlighting possible misuses, including potential fraud assisted with unauthorized voice imitation, or deepfakes.
—David Ingram, NBC News, 29 Mar. 2024
At least since René Descartes declared dogs to be no more feeling than machines, and doubled down on his thesis by nailing and burning some of the unlucky automatons alive, people objecting to the misuse of animals have mostly inhabited the losing side.
—Christian Schneider, National Review, 28 Mar. 2024
And its misuse can increase the risk of children developing anxiety, depression and eating disorders.
—Cristiano Lima-Strong, Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2024
At the time, executive director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the union’s top negotiator, argued that defining actors as human beings would not be an effective protection against AI misuse.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 23 Mar. 2024
Commissioner Joe Carollo Sued for misuse of public office
In June, a jury ordered Commissioner Joe Carollo to pay $63.5 million to two Little Havana businessmen for weaponizing city resources – from police to code enforcement – to carry out a personal vendetta.
—Susan Merriam, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2024
Verb
To expand 702, though, intelligence officials have to overcome the significant concerns of a bipartisan group of lawmakers who believe the powerful surveillance tool has been misused in the past, including to inappropriately spy on Americans.
—USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
The merits of the PUC’s plan notwithstanding, the issue is also a classic example of how the annual budget process is misused to enact major policy changes without fully airing their impacts.
—Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024
If scientific findings are sensationalized by journalists, oversimplified by authors, and misused by political actors, what are scientists supposed to do?
—William Deresiewicz, The Atlantic, 2 Apr. 2024
Their messages allege Lewis misused taxpayer money, contributed to a hostile workplace and is knowingly using inaccurate tabulators.
—Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 29 Mar. 2024
The six-person city council unanimously voted to censure the mayor over two things: misusing a city plow for personal gain and improperly using a city vehicle.
—Jolene Almendarez, The Enquirer, 28 Mar. 2024
However, Whitehead misused the funds for personal expenses, including luxury purchases from Louis Vuitton and Foot Locker.
—Melissa Noel, Essence, 15 Mar. 2024
Santos has pleaded not guilty to 23 federal charges, including allegations of fraud related to Covid-19 unemployment benefits, misusing campaign funds and lying about his personal finances on House disclosure reports.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 22 Mar. 2024
But the small bluetooth devices that owners attach to their key chains or keep in their bags and purses to locate their personal belongings, have been misused by stalkers who are tracking their targets' every move.
—CBS News, 20 Mar. 2024
Noun
But the company is keeping the new voice assistant to itself for now, citing risk of misuse, especially during an election year.
—Nick Rockel, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024
The budget at one L.A. school, Dixie Canyon Elementary in Sherman Oaks, has been cited by Prop. 28 advocates as an example of alleged misuse of the funding.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2024
Less than two years later, in July 2023, multiple immigration advocacy groups filed a complaint with oversight agencies against ICE over alleged misuse of the practice.
—Cailey Gleeson, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Some social media users reacted by highlighting possible misuses, including potential fraud assisted with unauthorized voice imitation, or deepfakes.
—David Ingram, NBC News, 29 Mar. 2024
At least since René Descartes declared dogs to be no more feeling than machines, and doubled down on his thesis by nailing and burning some of the unlucky automatons alive, people objecting to the misuse of animals have mostly inhabited the losing side.
—Christian Schneider, National Review, 28 Mar. 2024
And its misuse can increase the risk of children developing anxiety, depression and eating disorders.
—Cristiano Lima-Strong, Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2024
At the time, executive director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the union’s top negotiator, argued that defining actors as human beings would not be an effective protection against AI misuse.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 23 Mar. 2024
Commissioner Joe Carollo Sued for misuse of public office
In June, a jury ordered Commissioner Joe Carollo to pay $63.5 million to two Little Havana businessmen for weaponizing city resources – from police to code enforcement – to carry out a personal vendetta.
—Susan Merriam, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'misuse.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near misuse
Cite this Entry
“Misuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misuse. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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