Misuse: meaning, definitions and examples
๐ซ
misuse
[ หmษชsหjuหz ]
inappropriate behavior
To use something incorrectly or inappropriately, especially for one's own advantage or benefit. It often involves manipulating or exploiting something in a way that is not intended.
Synonyms
abuse, exploit, manipulate, misapply.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Word | Description / Examples |
---|---|
misuse |
Use 'misuse' when someone uses something in the wrong way, often leading to harm or problems, but without the intention to cause harm.
|
abuse |
Use 'abuse' when referring to harmful behavior that is intentional and often includes mistreatment or cruelty. This word has a strong negative connotation.
|
exploit |
Use 'exploit' when someone takes unfair advantage of a person or situation for their own benefit, often with negative ethical implications.
|
manipulate |
Use 'manipulate' when someone skillfully controls or influences others or situations, often for personal gain, and usually with a negative connotation.
|
misapply |
Use 'misapply' when something is used incorrectly, usually in a technical or formal sense, often unintentional but may still cause problems.
|
Examples of usage
- He misused company funds for personal expenses.
- She was accused of misusing her authority for personal gain.
- The teacher warned the students not to misuse the school equipment.
inappropriate use
The incorrect or inappropriate use of something, especially for selfish or dishonest purposes.
Synonyms
abuse, improper use, misapplication, misutilization.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Word | Description / Examples |
---|---|
misuse |
Used when someone uses something in the wrong way or for the wrong purpose, often not intentional.
|
abuse |
Has a strong negative connotation, typically referring to intentional and harmful misuse, often related to power or substances.
|
misapplication |
Used in formal contexts, often referring to the incorrect application of rules, methods, or processes.
|
improper use |
Describes using something in a way that is not appropriate or correct; generally more formal and less negative than 'abuse'.
|
misutilization |
A more technical term, used in professional or academic contexts to describe using resources or tools ineffectively or incorrectly.
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Examples of usage
- The misuse of power can lead to corruption.
- He was found guilty of misuse of public funds.
- There are strict penalties for the misuse of prescription drugs.
Translations
Translations of the word "misuse" in other languages:
๐ต๐น uso indevido
- uso incorreto
- mau uso
๐ฎ๐ณ เคฆเฅเคฐเฅเคชเคฏเฅเค
๐ฉ๐ช Missbrauch
- falsche Verwendung
- Fehlgebrauch
๐ฎ๐ฉ penyalahgunaan
๐บ๐ฆ ะทะปะพะฒะถะธะฒะฐะฝะฝั
๐ต๐ฑ naduลผycie
๐ฏ๐ต ่ชค็จ
๐ซ๐ท abus
๐ช๐ธ abuso
๐น๐ท kรถtรผye kullanma
๐ฐ๐ท ์ค์ฉ
๐ธ๐ฆ ุฅุณุงุกุฉ ุงูุงุณุชุฎุฏุงู
๐จ๐ฟ zneuลพitรญ
๐ธ๐ฐ zneuลพitie
๐จ๐ณ ๆปฅ็จ
๐ธ๐ฎ zloraba
๐ฎ๐ธ misnotkun
๐ฐ๐ฟ าะธัะฝะฐั ะถะฐัะฐั
๐ฌ๐ช แแแ แแขแแ แแแแแงแแแแแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ sui-istifadษ
๐ฒ๐ฝ abuso
Etymology
The word 'misuse' originated in the early 15th century from the combination of 'mis-' (meaning 'badly' or 'wrongly') and 'use'. It has been used in English to describe the incorrect or inappropriate use of something for centuries. The concept of misuse extends beyond physical objects to include power, authority, and resources. Throughout history, misuse has been a common theme in ethical and moral discussions, highlighting the importance of using things in the proper way.
See also: abuse, disuse, disused, misused, overuse, peruse, reusableness, reuse, reusing, underuse, unusable, unused, usability, usable, usage, used, useful, usefully, usefulness, useless, uselessness, users, using, usual, utensil, utilize.
Word Frequency Rank
Ranked #11,138, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.
- ...
- 11135 waiter
- 11136 interposed
- 11137 vigilance
- 11138 misuse
- 11139 fundamentals
- 11140 allergic
- 11141 dumped
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