misrule 1 of 2

noun

Definition of misrulenext
as in anarchy
a state in which there is widespread wrongdoing and disregard for rules and authority the country's long period of misrule left it in economic turmoil for over a decade

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

misrule

2 of 2

verb

ˌmis-ˈrül How to pronounce misrule (audio)
as in to misconduct
to manage badly accused of misruling his island nation to the point of economic collapse

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 misrule
Noun
Soon, the story became buried in the avalanche of corruption and misrule that followed. — Terence McNamee, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Nov. 2025 But, after decades of misrule, the PA is wildly unpopular among Palestinians themselves. — Ilan Berman, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
The result is a society that feels both rule-bound and misruled, saturated with laws and yet strangely lawless. — Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2025 Congo had been brutally misruled by Belgium for over 70 years when the winds of change blew through in the late 1950s. — Zachariah Mampilly, Foreign Affairs, 28 Feb. 2023 See All Example Sentences for misrule
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misrule
  1. anarchy
  2. misconduct
  3. abuse
  4. misgovern
  5. damage
  6. mismanage
  7. violate
Noun
  • In the bleak postapocalyptic landscape of Volume III, the governments of the planet have failed to work together to contain the contagion, leading to the breakdown of societies, civil war and anarchy.
    — Eileen Hunt, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2026
  • That’s particularly true of Xi who, as a youth, spent years in rural exile after his father fell to a purge just before the Cultural Revolution – an upheaval during which China’s politics turned to anarchy.
    — Rana Mitter, The Conversation, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of anarchy
Verb
  • The Utah Supreme Court ordered a new trial last year, pointing to misconduct by investigators.
    — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026
  • In addition, referees were instructed to apply the rules regarding fouls and misconducts more strictly – a move meant to protect players and their inventiveness.
    — Cesar R. Torres, The Conversation, 26 May 2026
Definition of misconduct
Verb
  • Meanwhile, local Church leaders hope the pope's visit will repair the Church's standing after a crushing 2021 report found that some 330,000 French children had been abused by Catholic clergy and lay leaders over seven decades.
    — Joshua McElwee, Arkansas Online, 26 Sep. 2026
  • An example of warrantless seizure could be a case in which an officer sees a dog being abused and takes the animal.
    — Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of abuse
Verb
  • But a ruling class that systematically blinds itself to the most profound longings of human beings will misunderstand and misgovern those under its sway.
    — Benjamin and Jenna Storey, WSJ, 12 Oct. 2021
Definition of misgovern
Verb
  • Depending on the system and target, the heat can damage sensors, electronics, structural components or other critical parts.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Sympathize with those who have been harmed, and who were damaged by that harm.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of damage
Verb
  • Founders often mismanage their crucial first sales hire, mistakenly seeking candidates suited for large corporations.
    — Kate Morgan, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Target has been criticized for mismanaging inventory, under-investing in stores and falling behind on the trendy, eye-catching merchandise the retailer built its name on.
    — Gabrielle Fonrouge, CNBC, 22 June 2026
Definition of mismanage
Verb
  • In 2012, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruled that a Costa Rican court’s ban on IVF violated the human right to private and family life and the human right to found and raise a family.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Trump administration officials in his first term were alleged to have repeatedly violated the Hatch Act with no penalty.
    — Alayna Treene, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of violate

Browse Nearby Words

misrepresents
misrule
misruled
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Cite this Entry

“Misrule.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misrule. Accessed 3 Oct. 2026.

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