misapply

[ mis-uh-plahy ]

/ ˌmɪs əˈplaɪ /

to make a wrong application or use of.

Origin of misapply

First recorded in 1565–75; mis-¹ + apply

mis·ap·pli·ca·tion

[mis-ap-li-key-shuh n] /ˌmɪs æp lɪˈkeɪ ʃən/, noun mis·ap·pli·er, noun

They use words from the Soviet past and misapply them to the current situation.

Inside ‘Maidan’: Sergei Loznitsa on His Ukrainian Uprising Doc and Putin’s ‘Fascist’ Regime |Richard Porton |May 24, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Another way to make your tax odious, is to misapply the produce of it.

Benjamin Franklin |Frank Luther Mott
And what is exactly known people have somehow or other contrived to misapprehend and misapply.

Views and Reviews |William Ernest Henley
I fear we are hugely mistaken, and misapply our charity thus pitying of them, where we should indeed much rather pity ourselves.

Constitutional History of England, Henry VII to George II, Volume II |Henry Hallam

He coupled the gift with a solemn curse and anathema upon all who should ever disturb or misapply the donation.

France and the Republic |William Henry Hurlbert
The majority could not afford to waste or misapply its resources.

Sketches of Successful New Hampshire Men |Various

misapply

/ (ˌmɪsəˈplaɪ) /

to apply wrongly or badly

another word for misappropriate

misapplication (ˌmɪsæplɪˈkeɪʃən), noun