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Misusing: meaning, definitions and examples

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misusing

 

[ mɪsˈjuːzɪŋ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

incorrect usage

Misusing refers to the act of using something inappropriately or in a way that is not intended. It implies a misuse of one's powers, tools, or responsibilities. This term is commonly used in legal and ethical contexts, where the misuse of a privilege or resource can lead to negative consequences. Misusing can also encompass behaviors that are harmful or detrimental to oneself or others.

Synonyms

abuse, misapply, mishandle

Examples of usage

  • He was accused of misusing company funds.
  • The coach warned against misusing the training equipment.
  • She felt guilty about misusing her influence to get favors.

Translations

Translations of the word "misusing" in other languages:

🇵🇹 uso indevido

🇮🇳 दुरुपयोग

🇩🇪 Missbrauch

🇮🇩 penyalahgunaan

🇺🇦 зловживання

🇵🇱 nadużycie

🇯🇵 誤用

🇫🇷 mauvaise utilisation

🇪🇸 mal uso

🇹🇷 kötüye kullanım

🇰🇷 남용

🇸🇦 سوء الاستخدام

🇨🇿 zneužívání

🇸🇰 zneužívanie

🇨🇳 滥用

🇸🇮 zloraba

🇮🇸 misnotkun

🇰🇿 теріс пайдалану

🇬🇪 მიზანმიმართული გამოყენება

🇦🇿 sui-istifadə

🇲🇽 mal uso

Word origin

The word 'misuse' is formed by combining the prefix 'mis-', which originates from the Old English 'mis-', meaning 'wrongly' or 'badly', and the word 'use', which comes from the Latin 'uti', meaning 'to use'. The term has evolved over time to encompass various forms of inappropriate utilization. Historically, the notion of 'misuse' has crossed various domains, including law, ethics, and language, indicating an action that deviates from intended norms or functions. The addition of '-ing' to create 'misusing' marks it as a present participle, indicating ongoing or current action. The use of 'misuse' has been documented in legal texts and ethical discussions since at least the 16th century, often in relation to the improper exploitation of resources or authority.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #30,883 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.