misuse
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the act of using something in a way that is wrong, illegal, or not intended.
n.the incorrect, improper, or unlawful use of a resource, power, or object.
Simple“The misuse of company funds led to a serious investigation by the police.”
In context“The report highlighted the widespread misuse of public data, suggesting that current privacy laws were insufficient to protect citizens.”
UsageOften followed by the preposition 'of'.
SynonymsAntonymsproper use - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to use something in the wrong way or for the wrong purpose.
v.to apply or utilise something in an incorrect or inappropriate manner.
Simple“If you misuse the equipment, it might break and cause an accident.”
In context“The researcher was accused of misusing the statistical data to support a conclusion that the evidence did not actually justify.”
Synonymsmisapplywaste - 03 C1 Advanced
v.to treat a person or an animal in a cruel or unfair way.
v.to treat someone or something with cruelty or lack of care; to abuse.
Simple“The king was known to misuse his servants, making them work long hours without food.”
In context“Historical accounts suggest the governor frequently misused his subordinates, subjecting them to harsh conditions and arbitrary punishments.”
Teacher's tipIn modern English, 'mistreat' or 'abuse' is much more common for people; 'misuse' is usually reserved for objects or systems.
“Alcohol misuse is one of the top public health challenges in the United States.”
“The goal is not to catch every possible misuse of AI.”
From mis- + use (noun).
From mis- + use (verb).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.