misused
adj.used in a way that is wrong, dishonest, or not what was intended. It describes something that people are not using correctly.
adj.used incorrectly, improperly, or for an unintended purpose. Often describes the application of power, funds, or linguistic terms.
“The charity closed after reports of misused funds.”
“The politician faced heavy criticism after it was revealed that he had misused public office for personal gain.”
“While some linguistic shifts are natural, scholars argue that certain technical terms are so frequently misused in popular media that their original precision has been lost entirely.”
Often used as a participial adjective before a noun or after a linking verb like 'be' or 'become'.
“Rettig claims: “My work has been misunderstood, misinterpreted, and misused.” But it is an incredibly dark tale.”
“Like some other powerful technologies, the software can also be misused.”