misuse
verb /mɪsˈjuːz 
/ [with object]
/ [with object]1Use (something) in the wrong way or for the wrong purpose: he was found guilty of misusing public funds...
- Not only do they take them for commercial purposes, but they misuse them entirely.
- In my humble opinion, to use them is not wrong, but to misuse them is.
- Corruption allegations that she had misused public funds came next.
Synonyms
put to wrong use, misapply, misemploy, embezzle, use fraudulently;
abuse, exploit, squander, waste, dissipate
1.1Treat (someone or something) badly or unfairly: we felt that we had been deceived and misused...
- She was the first one of his many masters that had not beaten or misused him.
- ‘There is a group of guards that have been, well, misusing me,’ she said, looking down.
- Our sense was that some people were misusing them and we felt that put our children and other users at risk and that's why we've decided to close it down.
Synonyms
ill-treat, maltreat, mistreat, abuse, ill-use, treat badly, handle/treat roughly, knock about/around, hit, beat, strike, mishandle, manhandle, maul, molest, injure, harm, hurt, bully, persecute
informal beat up, rough up, do over
noun /mɪsˈjuːs / [mass noun]
/ [mass noun]The wrong or improper use of something: drugs of such potency that their misuse can have dire consequences [count noun]: a misuse of power...
- Abuse is a gross and always inexcusable misuse of power.
- Women have similar stories to tell - of misuse of power and of their helplessness in situations where the harassment is short of violent assault or rape.
- The Bill which the government is supporting, will provide powers to control their misuse.
Synonyms
wrong use, misemployment, embezzlement, fraud;
exploitation, squandering, waste, dissipation
illegal use, wrong use, abuse, misapplication
Derivatives
misuser
- Our study never aimed to provide figures but focussed on individual stories from misusers and their families.
- If we have serious drug misusers, basically, we have to try and look after them and improve their health.
- We know this because we have listened and considered opinions of service providers and to the individual stories of misusers and their families.