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Misused: meaning, definitions and examples

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misused

 

[ mɪsˈjuːz ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

in communication

To use something in the wrong way or for the wrong purpose.

Synonyms

abuse, exploit, misapply, mishandle.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
abuse

Use in situations where there is intentional and severe misuse, often involving harm to people, animals, or systems. This word carries a strong negative connotation.

  • She suffered from emotional abuse at the hands of her partner
  • The politician abused his authority to silence his opponents
exploit

Use when referring to taking unfair advantage of something or someone, typically for personal benefit or gain. This word also has a negative connotation.

  • He exploited the loophole in the law to avoid paying taxes
  • Some companies exploit their workers by paying low wages
mishandle

Use when referring to someone managing or dealing with something badly or ineffectively.

  • The manager mishandled the customer complaint, making the situation worse
  • She mishandled the fragile vase and it broke
misapply

Use when something is applied incorrectly or inappropriately, especially in formal or technical contexts.

  • The scientist misapplied the formula, leading to incorrect results
  • Misapplying these regulations can result in significant legal issues

Examples of usage

  • He misused company funds for personal expenses.
  • She misused her authority to manipulate the situation.
  • The teacher warned the students not to misuse the school equipment.
  • Parents should educate their children on how not to misuse technology.
  • It's important not to misuse confidential information.

Translations

Translations of the word "misused" in other languages:

🇵🇹 mal utilizado

🇮🇳 गलत इस्तेमाल किया गया

🇩🇪 missbraucht

🇮🇩 disalahgunakan

🇺🇦 зловживаний

🇵🇱 nadużywany

🇯🇵 誤用された

🇫🇷 mal utilisé

🇪🇸 mal utilizado

🇹🇷 kötüye kullanılmış

🇰🇷 오용된

🇸🇦 أسيء استخدامه

🇨🇿 zneužitý

🇸🇰 zneužitý

🇨🇳 误用的

🇸🇮 zlorabljen

🇮🇸 misnotaður

🇰🇿 қиянат жасалған

🇬🇪 არასწორად გამოყენებული

🇦🇿 sui-istifadə edilən

🇲🇽 mal utilizado

Etymology

The word 'misused' originated from the combination of the prefix 'mis-' meaning 'badly' or 'incorrectly' and the verb 'use'. It first appeared in the English language in the late 16th century. Over the years, 'misused' has been commonly used in various contexts to describe the improper or incorrect use of something.

See also: abuse, disuse, disused, misuse, 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

With rank #19,162, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.