Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

misuse

/mɪsˈjuːs/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.54 in modern English

Syllables: mis-use
IPA: /mɪsˈjuːs/

8

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

2

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

An incorrect, improper or unlawful use of something.

Countable; Uncountable

verb

To use (something) incorrectly.

Transitive verb

verb

To abuse or mistreat (something or someone).

Transitive verb

verb

To rape (a woman); later more generally, to sexually abuse (someone).

Transitive verb

verb

To abuse verbally, to insult.

Obsolete; Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"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."
"“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.”"
"Socrates was brought upon the stage by Aristophanes, and misused to his face: but he laughed, as if it concerned him not […]."

Etymology

From mis- + use (noun).

Word Breakdown

Prefix: mis-
Suffix: use

Usage

Inflected Forms

misuses (plural) misuses (present, singular) misusing (participle, present) misused (participle, past) misused (past) misust (obsolete, participle) misust (obsolete, past)

Derived Forms

misuser

Synonyms

abuse outrage violate constuprate defile defoul dishonour force misuse oppress pollute rape

Rhymes With

news lose whose choose who's views shoes reviews jews refuse blues cruise

Questions

How do you pronounce misuse?: The recorded pronunciation is /mɪsˈjuːs/.
What does misuse mean?: An incorrect, improper or unlawful use of something.
Where does misuse come from?: From mis- + use (noun).

How to pronounce misuse

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “misuse”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/mɪsˈjuːs/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “misuse”.
Repeat and practice — Say “misuse” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.