catachresis

[ kat-uh-kree-sis ]
/ ˌkæt əˈkri sɪs /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR catachresis ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

misuse or strained use of words, as in a mixed metaphor, occurring either in error or for rhetorical effect.

Origin of catachresis

1580–90; < Latin < Greek: a misuse (akin to katachrêsthai to misuse), equivalent to kata- cata- + chrêsis use ( chrê(sthai) to use, need + -sis -sis)

OTHER WORDS FROM catachresis

cat·a·chres·tic [kat-uh-kres-tik] /ˌkæt əˈkrɛs tɪk/, cat·a·chres·ti·cal, adjective cat·a·chres·ti·cal·ly, adverb

Words nearby catachresis

catabolism, catabolite, catabolite gene activator protein, catabolize, catacaustic, catachresis, catachronobiology, cataclasis, cataclastic, cataclinal, cataclysm

Words related to catachresis

harm, maltreatment, mistreatment, prostitution, exploitation, waste, corruption, inhumanity, atrocity, brutality, cruelty, barbarity, desecration, misapplication, perversion, solecism, profanation, dissipation, barbarism, injury

Example sentences from the Web for catachresis

British Dictionary definitions for catachresis

catachresis
/ (ˌkætəˈkriːsɪs) /

noun

the incorrect use of words, as luxuriant for luxurious

Derived forms of catachresis

catachrestic (ˌkætəˈkrɛstɪk) or catachrestical, adjective catachrestically, adverb

Word Origin for catachresis

C16: from Latin, from Greek katakhrēsis a misusing, from katakhrēsthai, from khrēsthai to use