misapply
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishmisapplymis‧ap‧ply /ˌmɪsəˈplaɪ/ verb (misapplied, misapplying) [transitive] USE somethingto use something incorrectly or for a wrong purpose In your case the rules have been misapplied.Grammar Misapply is usually passive. —misapplication /ˌmɪsæplɪˈkeɪʃən/ noun [uncountable] a misapplication of the law→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpusmisapply• Ross was charged with misapplying public money.