as in to misuse
to put to a bad or improper use you've misapplied the theorem to certain problems that require a different formula kids who misapply their boundless energy and get into trouble

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of misapply But sometimes people misapply the word tradition to things that are simply obsolete. Joe Rexrode, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024 Our biased admiration for good fathers is misapplied to a species, such as the bald eagle, in which biparental care is the rule. Time, 17 June 2023 First, if a bull market means to you that stocks are trending unequivocally upward, then, no, the bull market label is being misapplied right now. Jeff Sommer, New York Times, 16 June 2023 Democrats in Tallahassee say the program isn’t just bad policy, it was misapplied to move migrants from Texas. Todd J. Gillman, Dallas News, 7 June 2023 O'Shea said the study's findings have often been misinterpreted or misapplied since its publication. Hannah Hudnall, USA TODAY, 2 June 2023 Ioniţă still has both qualities in equal measure, but they were sorely misapplied in his performance of Dvořák’s cello concerto. Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2023 But laser projectors are still vulnerable to errors of neglect — i.e., dead bugs and misapplied 3-D lenses — and can introduce problems of their own, including a tendency toward green and magenta highlights. Lane Brown, Vulture, 2 Mar. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misapply
Verb
  • According to Hinton, the threat unfolds when: People misuse AI, and AI becomes smarter than us Hinton cites cyberattacks, creation of viruses, corruption of elections, and creation of echo chambers as examples of the first way AI poses an existential threat.
    Pia Lauritzen, Forbes.com, 22 June 2025
  • In his message, published by the Vatican, Leo said AI technology is a great tool but also could be misused and cause harm, especially to developmentally vulnerable children and young people.
    Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 20 June 2025
Verb
  • In the procedural drama, Rodríguez brings to life a multi-layered and solemn character shaped by a traumatic childhood — abused within the foster care system, with no knowledge of his origins, and struggling with severe dyslexia.
    Veronica Villafañe, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
  • Federal employees widely abused the Biden administration‘s telework policies, according to an inspector general report released by the Office of Personnel Management on Friday.
    Haisten Willis, The Washington Examiner, 20 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Misapply.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misapply. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

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