misuse

verb

mis·​use ˌmis-ˈyüz 

misused; misusing; misuses

transitive verb

1

: to use incorrectly : misapply

misused his talents

a word that is frequently misused

was charged withmisusing company funds

2

: abuse, mistreat

… their prisoner had the heavy task of receiving their insolence as wit, answering their insults with good-humour, and withholding from them the opportunity which they sought of engaging him in a quarrel, that they might have a pretence for misusing him.

—Sir Walter Scott

misuser noun

plural misusers

Synonyms of misuse

• abuse

Examples of misuse in a Sentence

She's charged with misusing company funds.

a word that is frequently misused

Recent Examples on the Web

He was charged with misusing 911, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and assault on a law enforcement officer. —Kairi Lowery, Miami Herald, 2 June 2026

Agency chair says data has been misused Early indications of the EEOC's plan to stop gathering data came a year ago. —Andrea Hsu, NPR, 1 June 2026

That is the standard set for bringing weapons and cellphones into a secure area, safeguarding department property, monitoring the radio, misusing department letterhead, badges or insignia, secondary employment violations, and recommending bondsmen or attorneys to inmates. —Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 29 May 2026

The timing of the memo — roughly seven months before internal charges were filed against Newton Jones accusing him of misusing union money — places it in a critical period for the union’s leadership. —Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, partly from mis- + usen to use; partly from Middle French mesuser to abuse, from Old French, from mes- + user to use

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for misuse

• accrues
• accuse
• aircrews
• amuse
• bamboos
• breakthroughs
• canoes
• cashews
• chartreuse
• confuse
• construes
• defuse

Kids Definition

misuse

1 of 2 verb

mis·​use mish-ˈüz 

(ˈ)mish-ˈyüz, 

(ˈ)mis-ˈyüz

1

: to use incorrectly : misapply

2

: abuse entry 1 sense 2, mistreat

misusage

-ˈ(y)ü-sij, 

-zij

noun

misuse

2 of 2 noun

mis·​use mish-ˈüs 

(ˈ)mish-ˈyüs, 

(ˈ)mis-ˈyüs

: incorrect or improper use