as in incorrectly
in a mistaken or inappropriate way
the manufacturer's warranty is no longer valid if the appliance is used improperly
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Recent Examples of improperly
He was sentenced to life in prison, but his lawyers later pushed for a new trial, arguing that the jury had been improperly influenced by former Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill.
—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 8 June 2026
Tiffany claimed election laws were improperly changed before the 2020 election, and has supported tighter election-security measures.
—Josh Meyer, USA Today, 7 June 2026
There is substitution bias (consumers switch to cheaper alternatives), outlet bias (shoppers move to discount retailers), new goods bias (new products are late to enter the index), and quality change bias (improvements in products are improperly treated as price increases).
—James Broughel, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
Beatty amended her complaint, arguing in part that she had again been improperly excluded from an upcoming board meeting at the White House at which trustees were expected to approve the shutdown.
—Janay Kingsberry, The Atlantic, 6 June 2026
The Boston cop accused of improperly shooting and killing a carjacking suspect pleaded not guilty to manslaughter in a hearing packed by his fellow officers and their union.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 4 June 2026
Troopers said the equipment can expose people to radiation if damaged or improperly handled.
—Miami Herald, 3 June 2026
The Justice Department has sharply criticized that ruling and vowed to appeal, arguing the court improperly interfered with a legitimate prosecution involving a previously dormant investigation tied to a 2022 Tennessee traffic stop.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 3 June 2026
Loma Linda University Health officials agreed to pay a nearly $8 million settlement over a lawsuit that alleged the hospital improperly disposed of hazardous waste and confidential medical records.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 3 June 2026
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 8 June 2026
Tiffany claimed election laws were improperly changed before the 2020 election, and has supported tighter election-security measures.
—Josh Meyer, USA Today, 7 June 2026
There is substitution bias (consumers switch to cheaper alternatives), outlet bias (shoppers move to discount retailers), new goods bias (new products are late to enter the index), and quality change bias (improvements in products are improperly treated as price increases).
—James Broughel, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
Beatty amended her complaint, arguing in part that she had again been improperly excluded from an upcoming board meeting at the White House at which trustees were expected to approve the shutdown.
—Janay Kingsberry, The Atlantic, 6 June 2026
The Boston cop accused of improperly shooting and killing a carjacking suspect pleaded not guilty to manslaughter in a hearing packed by his fellow officers and their union.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 4 June 2026
Troopers said the equipment can expose people to radiation if damaged or improperly handled.
—Miami Herald, 3 June 2026
The Justice Department has sharply criticized that ruling and vowed to appeal, arguing the court improperly interfered with a legitimate prosecution involving a previously dormant investigation tied to a 2022 Tennessee traffic stop.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 3 June 2026
Loma Linda University Health officials agreed to pay a nearly $8 million settlement over a lawsuit that alleged the hospital improperly disposed of hazardous waste and confidential medical records.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 3 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for improperly
Adverb
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For people with melanin-rich skin, hyperpigmentation and burns are among the most common concerns and typically occur when an inexperienced provider uses a device incorrectly.—
Aimee Simeon,
Allure,
3 June 2026
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It can also be used if a corner kick is incorrectly awarded to a team.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
3 June 2026
Adverb
-
Flood insurance is separate from homeowners coverage Friedlander said many property owners mistakenly believe their standard homeowners insurance policy covers flooding.—
Larry Seward,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
-
The distillery’s version of the story was that it was mistakenly flagged as potentially being a site of weapons of mass destruction; the real story appears to be a bit less dramatic.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
1 June 2026
Adverb
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Consultants also found that the school district erroneously spent more than $2 million on the employer share of health insurance because of problems with its payroll system.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
8 June 2026
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This prevented the driver from being erroneously cited and the incident could be used to show other drivers how the cameras were protecting them.—
James Morris,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Adverb
-
Argueta denies touching the girl inappropriately.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
26 May 2026
-
Zahrt first called the Department of Child and Family Services in 2018 when her then-7-year-old daughter began rubbing lotion on herself inappropriately, and claimed that was how her father instructed her to do so, Zahrt said in the Hulu series.—
Jordana Comiter,
PEOPLE,
22 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Improperly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/improperly. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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