Synonyms of misusing

misusing

verb

present participle of misuse

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

• abusing
• misapplying
• perverting
• prostituting
• profaning
• degrading
• twisting
• misemploying
• corrupting
• mismanaging
• desecrating
• debasing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• using
• applying
• employing
• utilizing
• respecting

2

as in bullying

to inflict physical or emotional harm upon

sadly misused by the people he had trusted

Synonyms & Similar Words

• abusing
• bullying
• mistreating
• torturing
• violating
• mishandling
• manhandling
• oppressing
• injuring
• brutalizing
• taking apart
• maltreating
• hurting
• ill-treating
• persecuting
• ill-using
• harassing
• messing over
• molesting
• harming
• kicking around
• tormenting
• outraging
• victimizing
• working (over)
• wronging
• sandbagging
• beating (up)
• burning
• roughing (up)
• messing (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fostering
• nurturing
• caring (for)
• cherishing
• indulging
• favoring
• spoiling
• gratifying
• coddling
• catering (to)
• humoring
• pampering
• babying
• mollycoddling

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of misusing

That low percentage suggests that detention center staff are misusing strip searches, said Dana Flores, senior manager for youth justice in Colorado at the National Center for Youth Law. —Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 30 Sep. 2025

And more than 300 others have been accused of selling or misusing their benefits since January 2024, according to records obtained by Kentucky Public Radio. —Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2025

His most recent arrest before the alleged stabbing came in January, when he was charged with misusing 911. —Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 25 Sep. 2025

Before the attack, he'd been released without bail for a prior misdemeanor charge of allegedly misusing the 911 system. —Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2025

McGlynn was also accused of misusing booster funds, according to the letter. —Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 19 Sep. 2025

There is just not evidence, for decades really, that people who seek naturalization and are able to pass the requirements are in any way misusing the system. —Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025

Harlan County Former Harlan County Sheriff Marvin Lipfird pleaded guilty to federal charges of misusing public funds in 2017. —Josh Wood, Louisville Courier Journal, 17 Sep. 2025

Sam Bankman-Fried, founder of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX, is in prison after being convicted of fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering for misusing billions of dollars in customer funds. —Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025