MISUSE: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for MISUSE?

Need another word that means the same as “misuse”? Find 33 synonyms and 30 related words for “misuse” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Misuse” are: misapply, abuse, pervert, put to wrong use, misemploy, embezzle, use fraudulently, ill-treat, maltreat, mistreat, ill-use, treat badly, handle roughly, treat roughly, knock about, knock around, hit, beat, strike, mishandle, manhandle, maul, molest, injure, harm, hurt, bully, persecute, wrong use, embezzlement, fraud, misapplication

Misuse as a Noun

Definitions of "Misuse" as a noun

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “misuse” as a noun can have the following definitions:

• Improper or excessive use.
• The wrong or improper use of something.

Synonyms of "Misuse" as a noun (5 Words)

abuse	A rude expression intended to offend or hurt. Human rights abuses.
embezzlement	Theft or misappropriation of funds placed in one’s trust or belonging to one’s employer. Charges of fraud and embezzlement.
fraud	Something intended to deceive; deliberate trickery intended to gain an advantage. He was convicted of fraud.
misapplication	The fraudulent appropriation of funds or property entrusted to your care but actually owned by someone else.
wrong use	That which is contrary to the principles of justice or law.

Usage Examples of "Misuse" as a noun

• A misuse of power.
• Drugs of such potency that their misuse can have dire consequences.

Misuse as a Verb

Definitions of "Misuse" as a verb

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “misuse” as a verb can have the following definitions:

• Use (something) in the wrong way or for the wrong purpose.
• Apply to a wrong thing or person; apply badly or incorrectly.
• Treat (someone or something) badly or unfairly.
• Change the inherent purpose or function of something.

Synonyms of "Misuse" as a verb (28 Words)

abuse	Change the inherent purpose or function of something. The actress abused the policeman who gave her a parking ticket.
beat	Give a beating to subject to a beating either as a punishment or as an act of aggression. Agassi beat Becker in the tennis championship.
bully	Seek to harm, intimidate, or coerce (someone perceived as vulnerable. Her 11- year-old son has been constantly bullied at school.
embezzle	Appropriate (as property entrusted to one’s care) fraudulently to one’s own use. She had embezzled 5 600 000 in company funds.
handle roughly	Touch, lift, or hold with the hands.
harm	Cause or do harm to. The villains didn t harm him.
hit	Hit against come into sudden contact with. A car hit the barrier.
hurt	Hurt the feelings of. Were you hurting after the accident.
ill-treat	Treat badly.
ill-use	Treat badly.
injure	Harm or impair (something. The explosion injured several people.
knock about	Find fault with; express criticism of; point out real or perceived flaws.
knock around	Sound like a car engine that is firing too early.
maltreat	Treat (a person or animal) cruelly or with violence. Children die from neglect or are maltreated by their carers.
manhandle	Move (a heavy object) by hand with great effort. Men used to manhandle the piano down the stairs.
maul	Split wood with a maul and wedges. A man was mauled by a lion at London Zoo.
misapply	Use (something) for the wrong purpose or in the wrong way. You are misapplying the name of this religious group.
misemploy	Employ or use (something) wrongly or improperly. You misemploy the term celibate.
mishandle	Manipulate roughly or carelessly. The equipment could be dangerous if mishandled.
mistreat	Treat badly. A dog which has been mistreated will remain very wary of strangers.
persecute	Cause to suffer. Hilda was persecuted by some of the other girls.
pervert	Lead (someone) away from what is considered natural or acceptable. Hector is a man who is simply perverted by his time.
put to wrong use	Estimate.
strike	Undertake strike action against an employer. Strike a balance.
treat badly	Provide with choice or abundant food or drink.
treat roughly	Subject to a process or treatment, with the aim of readying for some purpose, improving, or remedying a condition.
use fraudulently	Habitually do something (use only in the past tense.

Usage Examples of "Misuse" as a verb

• He was found guilty of misusing public funds.
• The director of the factory misused the funds intended for the health care of his workers.
• We felt that we had been deceived and misused.

Associations of "Misuse" (30 Words)

abuse	Treat with cruelty or violence, especially regularly or repeatedly. A black eye and other signs of physical abuse.
addictive	(of a substance or activity) causing or likely to cause someone to become addicted. A highly addictive drug.
affront	A deliberately offensive act or something producing the effect of deliberate disrespect. He took his son s desertion as a personal affront.
alcohol	Drink containing alcohol. Polyvinyl alcohol.
arbitrarily	On the basis of random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system. Everyone has the right not to be arbitrarily detained.
blob	An indeterminate roundish mass or shape. He made a string of blobs then hit a hundred.
contents	A list of divisions (chapters or articles) and the pages on which they start. He emptied the contents of his pockets.
deliberately	In a deliberate unhurried manner. The fire was started deliberately.
expletive	A word or phrase conveying no independent meaning but added to fill out a sentence or metrical line. He was greeted by a stream of expletives.
gelatinous	Of or like the protein gelatin. A sweet gelatinous drink.
gist	The substance or general meaning of a speech or text. It was hard to get the gist of Pedro s talk.
inappropriate	Not suitable for a particular occasion etc. It would be inappropriate for me to comment.
intoxicant	Causing. Intoxicants and drugs are used by some to escape physical or psychological pain.
intoxicate	Have an intoxicating effect on, of a drug. Except for NYC and LA no American city has so intoxicated and infuriated writers.
intoxication	Excitement and elation beyond the bounds of sobriety. The intoxication of wealth and power.
malapropism	The unintentional misuse of a word by confusion with one that sounds similar.
maltreat	Treat badly. Children die from neglect or are maltreated by their carers.
matter	(of a wound) secrete or discharge pus. Organic matter.
means	Resources; capability. Resolving disputes by peaceful means.
misdirect	Direct to the wrong place or in the wrong direction. Voters were misdirected to the wrong polling station.
misguide	Give bad advice to. A long survey that can only baffle and misguide the general reader.
mislead	Give false or misleading information to. The government misled the public about the road's environmental impact.
mistreat	Treat (a person or animal) badly, cruelly, or unfairly. A dog which has been mistreated will remain very wary of strangers.
overuse	Excessive use. Overuse of natural resources.
perfunctorily	In a set manner without serious attention. He kissed her cheek perfunctorily.
pervert	Corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality. He was charged with conspiring to pervert the course of justice.
quintessential	Representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class. He was the quintessential tough guy strong silent and self contained.
randomly	In a way that involves equal chances for each item. The houses were randomly scattered.
substance	The most important or essential part of something; the real or essential meaning. Substance abuse.
thing	An example or type of something. The sea is the primal source of all living things on earth.