misapply

misapply
    v 1: 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"
         [syn: {misapply}, {misuse}]
    

Misapply \Mis`ap*ply"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Misapplied}; p. pr.
   & vb. n. {Misapplying}.]
   To apply wrongly; to use for a wrong purpose; as, to misapply
   a name or title; to misapply public money.
   [1913 Webster]
    

65 Moby Thesaurus words for "misapply":
      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,
      misconduct, misconstrue, miscount, misdeal, misdeem, misdirect,
      misemploy, misexplain, misexplicate, misexpound, misfield,
      mishandle, misinterpret, misjudge, mismanage, misplay, misprint,
      misquote, misread, misrender, misreport, misspell, mistake,
      mistranslate, misunderstand, misuse, paralogize, peculate, pervert,
      pilfer, pollute, profane, prostitute, rationalize, reason ill,
      squeeze, strain the sense, torture, twist the words, violate,
      wrench