Misuse Meaning
/mɪsˈjuːs/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounAn incorrect, improper or unlawful use of something.
verbTo use (something) incorrectly.
Sentence Examples
The word lends itself to misuse by beginners.
Misuse of prepositions can make a situation hilarious.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The major illegal ____ of public funds resulted in a criminal investigation.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The company has strict rules against the ____ of office equipment for personal projects or any kind of unauthorized activities.
Word Origin & History
From mis- + use (noun).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The Queen may be celebrating her jubilee but the Queen's English Society, which has railed against the misuse and deterioration of the English language, is to fold."
— 2012 June 4, Lewis Smith, “Queen’s English Society says enuf is enough, innit?: Society formed 40 years ago to protect language against poor spelling and grammar closes because too few people care”, in The Guardian, London, archived from the original on 10 Mar 2016:
"“If that is true she would be the first case I have ever heard of, as most female captives are misused by the entire tribe.”"
— 2013, Philipp Meyer, The Son, Simon & Schuster, published 2014, page 326:
"Socrates was brought upon the stage by Aristophanes, and misused to his face: but he laughed, as if it concerned him not […]."
— 1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition II, section 3, member 7:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
The major illegal ____ of public funds resulted in a criminal investigation.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The company has strict rules against the ____ of office equipment for personal projects or any kind of unauthorized activities.