First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1misuse
verb mis·use \-ˈyüz\
: to use (something) incorrectly
: to treat (someone) unfairly
Full Definition of MISUSE
transitive verb
1
: to use incorrectly : misapply <misused his talents>
See misuse defined for English-language learners
See misuse defined for kids
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Origin of MISUSE
Middle English, partly from mis- + usen to use; partly from Middle French mesuser to abuse, from Old French, from mes- + user to use
Rhymes with MISUSE
abuse, accuse, amuse, Andrews, bad news, bemuse, berceuse, chanteuse, charmeuse, chartreuse, coiffeuse, confuse, contuse, danseuse, defuse, diffuse, diseuse, disuse, effuse, enthuse, excuse, ill-use, incuse, infuse, masseuse, perfuse, peruse, recluse, recuse, refuse, reuse, short fuse, suffuse, Toulouse, transfuse, vendeuse
2misuse
noun mis·use \-ˈyüs\
: the act of using something in an illegal, improper, or unfair way : incorrect use
Full Definition of MISUSE
: incorrect or improper use : misapplication
See misuse defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of MISUSE
14th century
Related to MISUSE
- Synonyms
- abuse, misapplication, misemployment, misusage, misutilization, perversion
Rhymes with MISUSE
Aarhus, abstruse, abuse, adduce, Atreus, blue spruce, burnoose, caboose, Cayuse, Cepheus, ceruse, charmeuse, chartreuse, Chartreuse, conduce, couscous, cut loose, deduce, diffuse, disuse, educe, effuse, excuse, fair use, footloose, hang loose, induce, Lanús, mongoose, Morpheus, negus, obtuse, Orpheus, papoose, Peleus, Perseus, prepuce, produce, profuse, Proteus, Purus, recluse, red spruce, reduce, refuse, retuse, reuse, Sanctus, seduce, slip noose, snow goose, Tereus, Theseus, traduce, transduce, turn loose, unloose, vamoose
MISUSE Defined for Kids
1misuse
verb mis·use \mis-ˈyüz\
mis·usedmis·us·ing
Definition of MISUSE for Kids
1
: to put into action or service in a wrong way
2misuse
noun mis·use \mis-ˈyüs\
Definition of MISUSE for Kids
: incorrect or improper handling <He was criticized for misuse of public funds.>
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