as in abuse
incorrect or improper use
the warranty for this dryer is null and void if you subject the product to deliberate misuse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to abuse
to put to a bad or improper use
an actor who misused his considerable talent by appearing in too many lousy movies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to bully
to inflict physical or emotional harm upon
sadly misused by the people he had trusted
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of misuse
Tanya Lewis,
Scientific American,
21 June 2026
According to America’s Poison Centers, the exposure appears to be driven by recreational misuse rather than accidental over-medication.
—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2026
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
22 June 2026
But he was ejected from the company in 1973 for allegedly misusing corporate funds, and pleaded guilty to tax evasion.
—
Chris Morris,
Variety,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for misuse
Noun
The symptoms often look different in dads—anger or sudden outbursts, irritability and substance misuse, for example.
—
Tanya Lewis,
Scientific American,
21 June 2026
According to America’s Poison Centers, the exposure appears to be driven by recreational misuse rather than accidental over-medication.
—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2026
Verb
Peregrine doesn’t use facial recognition, doesn’t create or collect new data, and builds active flagging mechanisms, not passive ones, when data is misused.
—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
22 June 2026
But he was ejected from the company in 1973 for allegedly misusing corporate funds, and pleaded guilty to tax evasion.
—
Chris Morris,
Variety,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for misuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misuse
abuse
Noun
-
Melvin Shimkus, 52, was arrested on a charge of vulnerable adult abuse after allegedly leaving his 31-year-old son, Hunter Shimkus, in a bathtub for seven weeks, according to local outlets, AZ Family, 12 News and Fox 10 TV, citing court documents.
-
There was a sense of hope in 2022 for women like Nakajima, an immigrant who sought safety in a new country and struggled with abuse from her family and strange men.
Cite this Entry
“Misuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misuse. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
