Word family noun usage use disuse misuse reuse usefulness ≠ uselessness user adjective reusable used ≠ unused disused useful ≠ useless usable ≠ unusable verb use misuse reuse adverb usefully ≠ uselessly
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishmisusemis‧use1 /ˌmɪsˈjuːz/ ●○○ verb [transitive] 1 to use something for the wrong purpose, or in the wrong way, often with harmful results SYN abuse Even harmless drugs can be misused. The term ‘schizophrenia’ is often misused. There is concern that the judges might misuse their power.2 to treat someone badly or unfairly → abuse→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
misuse• Measures must be taken to prevent confidential data from being misused.• Third, carers have power over dependent vulnerable relatives regardless of the stress of caring, and that power can be misused.• We should not oppose the principle of compulsory treatment simply because it could be misused.• Who uses it and misuses it?• Pameton is little publicised because it is of value only to that small number of people who may misuse medicines.• A worthy mentor will never misuse or abuse you sexually.• It is clear that the independent counsel law has been misused or at least overused.• To misuse or break the rules of winking is to produce misunderstanding, puzzlement, complaint, or some other social reaction.• He misused public funds to build and furnish his home.• He is accused of misusing public funds.misusemis‧use2 /mɪsˈjuːs/ noun [countable, uncountable] USE somethingthe use of something in the wrong way or for the wrong purpose SYN abuse a system designed to prevent credit card misusedrug/alcohol misuse Children who begin smoking when young are at greater risk from drugs misuse.misuse of a scandalous misuse of public fundsExamples from the Corpus
misuse• Opponents to the listing see it as an expensive attempt at an impossible dream and a misuse of the Endangered Species Act.• Opponents of genetic engineering see it as a misuse of scientific knowledge.• The surgeon also abused the patient, and it was a misuse of professional privilege that he did so.• Another 100,000 premature deaths stem from the abuse and misuse of alcohol.• Again careful questioning about how the bell and pad is used will indicate any misuse.• A number of public services and voluntary bodies are engaged in fighting drug misuse at local level.• Its current availability at low, or nil, cost, encouraged misuse, leading to salination or even waterlogging.• But the Red Cross says every misuse of its symbol could put its workers in danger.• But this resistance is weakened in the present context by allegations of misuse of power by the security services.• His career was ruined through the misuse of drugs.drug/alcohol misuse• A number of public services and voluntary bodies are engaged in fighting drug misuse at local level.• If alcohol misuse affects your business, it could mean that you aren't as competitive as you might be.• The aim of this study was to verify a strong clinical impression that injecting drug misuse in Lothian has recently diminished.• Getting reliable figures to show how much alcohol misuse costs us, or how many people are affected, isn't easy.• We will bring forward proposals to ensure that the control of drug misuse is co-ordinated effectively.• The effects of alcohol misuse spill over from private life into the workplace, causing inefficiency and accidents as well as absenteeism.• Fifty consecutive referrals in 1988 were compared with 50 consecutive referrals in 1990 with respect to demographic characteristics and patterns of drug misuse.• We also need to be aware that under pressure, all of us are vulnerable to alcohol misuse and even addiction.From Longman Business Dictionarymisusemis‧use /ˌmɪsˈjuːs/ noun [countable, uncountable]LAW the dishonest or wrong use of somethinga misuse of public funds —misuse /mɪsˈjuːz/ verb [transitive]A Florida businessman was arrested for misusing company funds. 