1
as in abusing
to put to a bad or improper use
an actor who misused his considerable talent by appearing in too many lousy movies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bullying
to inflict physical or emotional harm upon
sadly misused by the people he had trusted
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of misusing
Hong Kong — A Chinese coffee chain has apologized and changed its name after state media roasted it for misusing a word revered by the nation’s communist government.
—
Chris Lau, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025
Environmental groups questioned the legality surrounding the decision to overturn the Biden-era rule, accusing the Senate of misusing the Congressional Review Act to serve the GOP's agenda.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 3 Nov. 2025
That was due to a federal jury’s 2018 conviction of the former Texas Republican congressman on fraud and conspiracy charges for misusing charitable donations to pay for personal and political expenses.
—David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 31 Oct. 2025
In the 2000s, Andrew was repeatedly accused of misusing his position as a British trade envoy for his personal advantage.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 25 Oct. 2025
Pro-housing groups saw CEQA as a tool development opponents were using to delay or kill projects and that construction unions were misusing to compel developers to employ their members.
—Dan Walters, Oc Register, 24 Oct. 2025
Threats to your security are often also threats to your privacy and vice versa, since privacy is often about unwanted access to data, and security is often about what happens with that access and the harm that comes from misusing it.
—PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
The 51-year-old former assistant clerk magistrate has been indicted on charges related to misusing more than $71,000 in bail funds and forging a recognizance form to conceal her wrongdoing, according to the Massachusetts AG’s office.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 21 Oct. 2025
His conviction stemmed from a series of criminal schemes, including submitting false campaign finance documents, misusing donor identities to route funds for personal and campaign use, and providing fraudulent information to the New York State Department of Labor and the House of Representatives.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
Chris Lau, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025
Environmental groups questioned the legality surrounding the decision to overturn the Biden-era rule, accusing the Senate of misusing the Congressional Review Act to serve the GOP's agenda.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 3 Nov. 2025
That was due to a federal jury’s 2018 conviction of the former Texas Republican congressman on fraud and conspiracy charges for misusing charitable donations to pay for personal and political expenses.
—David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 31 Oct. 2025
In the 2000s, Andrew was repeatedly accused of misusing his position as a British trade envoy for his personal advantage.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 25 Oct. 2025
Pro-housing groups saw CEQA as a tool development opponents were using to delay or kill projects and that construction unions were misusing to compel developers to employ their members.
—Dan Walters, Oc Register, 24 Oct. 2025
Threats to your security are often also threats to your privacy and vice versa, since privacy is often about unwanted access to data, and security is often about what happens with that access and the harm that comes from misusing it.
—PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
The 51-year-old former assistant clerk magistrate has been indicted on charges related to misusing more than $71,000 in bail funds and forging a recognizance form to conceal her wrongdoing, according to the Massachusetts AG’s office.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 21 Oct. 2025
His conviction stemmed from a series of criminal schemes, including submitting false campaign finance documents, misusing donor identities to route funds for personal and campaign use, and providing fraudulent information to the New York State Department of Labor and the House of Representatives.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misusing
abusing
Verb
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The pair also pretended that Tammy was allegedly abusing them.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
9 Nov. 2025
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Archbishop Mitty product and San Jose native Aaron Gordon scored 18 while abusing Podziemski and other Warriors guards in the low post.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Misusing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misusing. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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