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

Then there are folks who create things, as the Kittrells did here, with the idea of misusing the trust from the get-go. — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Collins is under investigation from the House for allegedly misusing taxpayer funds by paying a staffer in his office who did not work. — Irene Wright, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026

Multiple law enforcement officers, including a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer, have been arrested for misusing the controversial Flock security system. — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 5 Aug. 2026

This is the best way to safeguard the thousands of government employees across Florida who do important, often sensitive work and would never dream of misusing their access to personal data. — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2026

In the last two months, authorities have announced cases involving three Cherokee County sheriff's deputies, five Albany police officers and three Richmond County officers, and others accused of misusing Georgia's license plate reader databases. — Dan Raby, CBS News, 31 July 2026

The New York State Museum in Albany has been accused of misusing $597, 624 in federal grant funds between 2020 and 2022, the Times-Union reported Wednesday. — Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 31 July 2026

In the last two weeks, two Illinois House Democrats have been exposed for allegedly misusing their offices, engaging in reprehensible conduct and abusing the public trust placed in them as state representatives. — Amy Elik, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2026

Just in the past month, five Albany police officers in Georgia were arrested and fired for allegedly misusing Flock, and police in Greer, South Carolina, fired two officers for misusing the product. — Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 26 July 2026