as in to misconduct
to manage badly
the ruling party was soundly defeated at the polls for having disastrously misgoverned the country
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Recent Examples of misgovern
But a ruling class that systematically blinds itself to the most profound longings of human beings will misunderstand and misgovern those under its sway.
—
Benjamin and Jenna Storey, WSJ, 12 Oct. 2021
Benjamin and Jenna Storey, WSJ, 12 Oct. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misgovern
Verb
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But given the agency’s track record of withholding information, mismanaging funds and failing to comply with audit recommendations, assurances alone are not enough.—
J.B. Jennings,
Baltimore Sun,
22 Feb. 2026
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Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr sent Gov. Gavin Newsom a letter last week demanding information about the project and accusing the state of mismanaging federal funds.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Setrakian refused to say whether his work on Bonta’s defense might violate state corruption laws.—
Will Swaim,
Oc Register,
6 Apr. 2026
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But the implicit argument, that Colorado law effectively compels Jeffco to violate Title IX, is a major, predictable indictment of our legislature.—
Lisa Frizell,
Denver Post,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Red Cross said the crash damaged the building and forced three families — a total of 10 people — from their homes.—
Eva Andersen,
CBS News,
6 Apr. 2026
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Reports and satellite images later showed large parts of the city heavily damaged or reduced to rubble.—
Maliha Rahman,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Prosecutors argue that Duckett was a monster in disguise who abused the badge and brutally raped and killed Teresa before dumping her body in a lake.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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The officer laughed and explained that someone had called in a report about a canine possibly being abused or in need of emergency veterinary care due to the noise.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The result is a society that feels both rule-bound and misruled, saturated with laws and yet strangely lawless.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
9 Sep. 2025
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Congo had been brutally misruled by Belgium for over 70 years when the winds of change blew through in the late 1950s.—
Zachariah Mampilly,
Foreign Affairs,
28 Feb. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Misgovern.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misgovern. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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