2 syllables: mis, use. Stress on use.
mis-YOOZ
/mɪˈsjuz/
misuse is pronounced mis-YOOZ (/mɪˈsjuz/). It has two syllables (mis-use), with the stress on "use". Misuse is a verb and noun meaning to use something in an incorrect, inappropriate, or illegal manner, or to employ words or resources in a way that fails to achieve the intended purpose. In verb form, it often conveys an inversion of proper use, with potential negative consequences. In noun form, it refers to the act or instance of improper use. The common emphasis is on the initial syllable when used as a noun in some contexts, and on the second syllable when stressed as a verb in certain phrases.
Misuse is a verb and noun meaning to use something in an incorrect, inappropriate, or illegal manner, or to employ words or resources in a way that fails to achieve the intended purpose. In verb form, it often conveys an inversion of proper use, with potential negative consequences. In noun form, it refers to the act or instance of improper use. The common emphasis is on the initial syllable when used as a noun in some contexts, and on the second syllable when stressed as a verb in certain phrases.
"The company faced penalties for the misuse of toxic chemicals."
"You should report the misuse of your password to IT immediately."
"His misuse of statistics undermined the study’s conclusions."
Pronounce as /ˌmɪsˈjuːs/ in US and UK. The syllable split is mi-SUSE, with the primary stress on the second syllable. Start with /m/ + /ɪ/ as in 'sit,' then /s/ + /juː/ as in 'you,' and finish with /s/ as in 'see'. In American English, the /juː/ is a single vowel glide; in careful speech you’ll hear a slight break before the /j/ blend. AU is similar but may show a slightly less rounded /uː/ depending on speaker.
Two frequent errors: (1) Misplacing the stress, saying mi-SUSE with a heavy first syllable; (2) Flattening the /juː/ into /uː/ or /ju/ as in ‘use,’ producing mis-use or miss-ooze. Correct by ensuring primary stress on the second syllable and keeping /juː/ as a distinct glide: /ˌmɪsˈjuːs/. Practice by saying ‘miss’ then quickly glide to ‘yuss’ with a clear /j/ onset. Repeat in gradual pace to lock the rhythm.
In US English, /ˌmɪsˈjuːs/ with a rhotic /r/ not present; in many UK variants you’ll hear a very similar /ˌmɪsˈjuːs/; some UK speakers may reduce the vowel slightly and use a shorter /uː/ in faster speech. Australian speakers commonly keep the /juː/ glide intact but may slightly reduce the preceding vowel and keep the final /s/ crisp. Across accents, the crucial differences lie in vowel quality and the strength of the /j/ onset preceding /uː/.
Because it combines a closed syllable with a long high back rounded vowel /uː/ after a consonant cluster /mɪs-/ and requires a clean /j/ onset before /uː/. The secondary stress nuance and the contrast between /juː/ and /uː/ can be subtle. Mastery comes from precise timing of the glide, strong but not heavy /s/ at the end, and maintaining the stress on the second syllable without reducing the /juː/.
Yes. The word centers a two-mora structure where the second syllable carries the primary stress and a long vowel /uː/. The challenge is maintaining a crisp /s/ cluster at the end while gliding from /j/ to /uː/. Keeping the tongue high for /uː/ without slipping into /u/ or /ju/ blends is key. Focus on the /sj/ sequence as a single smooth blend rather than two separate sounds.
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Misuse derives from the prefix mis- meaning badly or wrongly, attached to use. The prefix mis- dates from Old English and Germanic roots, signifying wrongdoing or error, and can be traced to Proto-Germanic *mis- (not, wrongly) and the verb use from Latin uti via Old French utiliser. The term captures a long-standing pattern in English of creating negative forms by affixing mis- to a base word. The modern sense of “to employ ill-advisedly” emerged in Early Modern English as compound verbs and nouns, where misuse described both the action (the act of wrong use) and the consequence (harm, inefficacy). In legal, medical, and technical registers, misuse often connotes harmful, negligent, or illegal exploitation of tools, data, or substances. First known uses appear in late medieval and early modern texts, with evolving connotations as systems and technologies became more complex, necessitating explicit language to distinguish proper from improper utilization. The term has since become common across professional discourse and everyday speech, frequently collocated with safety, data, power, and resources to underscore responsibility and governance around consumption and application.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "misuse" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "misuse" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "misuse"
-use sounds
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