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
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
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Recent Examples of misrule
Elian Peltier, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
The 22-year-old Palestinian man joined protests in the Gaza Strip last week to demand an end to 18 years of Hamas’ violent misrule in the territory.
—Bret Stephens, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2025
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
Noun
Other observers said that General Nguema had mainly benefited from the Gabonese people’s disenchantment with decades of misrule.
—Elian Peltier, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
The 22-year-old Palestinian man joined protests in the Gaza Strip last week to demand an end to 18 years of Hamas’ violent misrule in the territory.
—Bret Stephens, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 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
Noun
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Through her eyes, flashes of life (and anarchy, and newness) still burst through.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Dec. 2025
-
Throwing one’s hands up, in resignation or indifference, captures the anarchy that seems to characterize our digital lives.—
Roger J. Kreuz,
Fortune,
5 Dec. 2025
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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In handing down the sentence, Montenegro said Bonillo understood the scope of his misdeeds, abused his position of trust and used that position to enrich himself while undermining CBP’s main goal.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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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
Verb
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Stay away from windows as flying debris generated by damaging winds can be deadly.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Nov. 2025
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According to Brown, Hurricane Michael damaged 80 percent of the park’s namesake trees, but through a project with the Florida Park Service and Atlanta Botanical Garden, seeds obtained from living trees are being grown and planted in the ravine habitat at Torreya State Park.—
Carrie Honaker,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
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In October 2025, Beckerink pleaded no contest to domestic violence charges in connection to two incidents at Tracey's home in New Buffalo, Michigan, as well as one count of contempt for violating his bond, and was sentenced to 93 days in jail.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
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The lawsuit argues the freeze violated federal law, including the Administrative Procedure Act and constitutional limits on executive power and how Congress appropriates funds.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Misrule.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misrule. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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