[v] apply to a wrong thing or person; apply badly or incorrectly; "The words are misapplied in this context"; "You are misapplying the name of this religious group"
misuse
abuse, argue insincerely, befoul, contort, convert, debase, defalcate, defile, desecrate, distort, divert, do amiss, embezzle, foul, garble, get one wrong, get wrong, gloss, maladminister, misapprehend, misappropriate, miscall, miscite, misconceive, misco