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mis·use | \ ˌmis-ˈyüz 
\
\misused; misusing; misuses
Definition of misuse
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : to use incorrectly : misapply misused his talents a word that is frequently misused
misuse
nounmis·use | \ ˌmis-ˈyüs \
\Definition of misuse (Entry 2 of 2)
: incorrect or improper use : misapplication
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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
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Recent Examples on the Web: Verb As a result, some groups have converted a person’s DNA methylation status to an age estimate—or even a prediction of life expectancy (worrying ethicists, who say the data could be misused by forensic investigators and insurance companies).
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Virginia Morell, Science | AAAS, "Here’s a better way to convert dog years to human years, scientists say," 15 Nov. 2019 But most observers agree that the dangers come more from the way it is misused than from the gas itself.
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The Economist, "A crying shame Banned in warfare, is tear-gas too readily used to control crowds?," 12 Nov. 2019 When data is misused, software can compound stereotypes or arrive at false conclusions.
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Washington Post, "How the Algorithms Running Your Life Are Biased," 11 Nov. 2019 The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Broward Sheriff’s Office began an investigation last year after county auditors determined the purchasing cards, called P-Cards, were being misused in the port’s Public Works Department.
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Larry Barszewski, sun-sentinel.com, "Port Everglades workers sentenced in fraud cases," 28 Oct. 2019 Civil rights groups already have expressed concerns that data could be misused, and the new policy is likely to lead to legal action.
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BostonGlobe.com, "WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is planning to collect DNA samples from asylum-seekers and other migrants detained by immigration officials and will add the information to a massive FBI database used by law enforcement hunting for criminals, a Justice Department official said.," 22 Oct. 2019 The Take Back program was initiated in 2010 with the intent of removing expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs from homes where they could be misused, stolen or abused, especially by children and teens.
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Michael Kosnar, NBC News, "DEA to accept vaping products at next National Prescription Drug Take Back Day," 22 Oct. 2019 Civil rights groups already have expressed concerns that data could be misused, and the new policy is likely to lead to legal action.
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Colleen Long, chicagotribune.com, "Trump administration takes step to collect DNA samples from asylum-seekers," 21 Oct. 2019 Civil rights groups already have expressed concerns that data could be misused, and the new policy is likely to lead to legal action.
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San Diego Union-Tribune, "US takes step to require DNA samples from asylum-seekers," 21 Oct. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Four of those were also convicted of misuse of public funds.
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BostonGlobe.com, "BARCELONA, Spain — Hundreds of thousands in Spain’s restive region of Catalonia protested Saturday in Barcelona against the imprisonment of nine separatist leaders for their roles in an illegal 2017 secession bid.," 27 Oct. 2019 Pay careful attention to your credit card statements and bank account statements to spot any signs of misuse.
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Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, "Hackers hover near online shopping carts, too. It's called e-skimming," 23 Oct. 2019 Four of them were additionally convicted of misuse of public funds and three were fined for disobedience.
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San Diego Union-Tribune, "Spain targets online group behind Catalan separatist protest," 15 Oct. 2019 Non-tariff barriers are the misuse of regulation to restrict trade.
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Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, "Real World Economics: Time to explain the basics of trade," 15 Sep. 2019 But the problem is misuse of bottles at the end of their life.
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Laura Parker, National Geographic, "How the plastic bottle went from miracle container to hated garbage," 23 Aug. 2019 Gun rights groups have slammed the Sandy Hook parents’ lawsuit as a misuse of the legal system.
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Melissa Chan, Time, "Just About Everyone But the Gun Maker Gets Sued After a Mass Shooting," 20 Aug. 2019 The campaign, developed then tweeted by the White House, drew sharp rebukes from lawmakers, free-speech advocates and open-government experts, who saw it as a misuse of federal resources.
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Anchorage Daily News, "Trump looks to rally controversial online allies at White House social media summit," 10 July 2019 Twelve Catalan leaders, elected politicians or activists, were imprisoned and are at the moment on trial in Madrid before the Supreme Court on charges of rebellion and misuse of public funds.
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Neal Ascherson, The New York Review of Books, "The Value of Independence," 18 Apr. 2019
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'misuse.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for misuse
misuse
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of misuse
(Entry 1 of 2)
: to use (something) incorrectly
: to treat (someone) unfairly
misuse
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of misuse (Entry 2 of 2)
: the act of using something in an illegal, improper, or unfair way : incorrect use
See the full definition for misuse in the English Language Learners Dictionary
misuse
verbmis·use | \ mis-ˈyüz \
\misused; misusing
Kids Definition of misuse
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : to put into action or service in a wrong way
misuse
nounmis·use | \ mis-ˈyüs \
\Kids Definition of misuse (Entry 2 of 2)
: incorrect or improper handling
He was criticized for misuse of public funds.
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Time Traveler for misuse
The first known use of misuse was in the 14th century
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