1. (v. t.) To treat or use improperly; to use to a bad purpose; to misapply; as, to misuse one's talents\.

2. (v. t.) To abuse; to treat ill.

3. (n.) Wrong use; misapplication; erroneous or improper use.

4. (n.) Violence, or its effects.

abuse active use adulterate adulteration alloy appliance application barbarism befoul befouling bias bleed bleed white canker catachresis cheapen clerical error coarsen color confound consumption contaminate contamination convert corrigendum corrupt corruption debase debauch defalcate defile defilement deflower degenerate degrade denature deprave desecrate despoil devalue distort diversion divert diverting do amiss drain embezzle employ employment envenoming erratum error exercise exertion exploit failure false coloring fault faute festering foul fouling garble good use hard usage hard use human error ill use ill-treat ill-use impose upon infect infection infelicity make use of maladminister malapropism maltreat manipulate milk misapplication misapply misapprehension misappropriate misappropriation miscalculation miscall miscarriage miscite misconception misconduct misconstruction misconstrue miscount misdeal misdirect misdirection misemploy misemployment misfield mishandle misidentification misinterpret misinterpretation misjudgment mismanage misplay misprint misquotation misquote misread misrender misreport misrepresent misrepresentation miss misspell misstatement mistake mistreat mistreatment misunderstanding misusage outrage peculate perversion pervert pilfer play on poison poisoning pollute pollution presume upon profane prostitute prostitution ravage ravish rough usage slant slanting solecism strain straining stroke suck dry suppuration taint take advantage of torture torturing twist typo typographical error ulcerate usage use use ill using up varnish violate vitiate vitiation vulgarize warp work on work upon wrong use