Misuse, v. t.
Etymology: [F. mésuser. See Mis-, prefix from French, and Use.]
1. To treat or use improperly; to use to a bad purpose; to misapply; as, to misuse one's talents. South. The sweet poison of misused wine. Milton.
2. To abuse; to treat ill. O, she misused me past the endurance of a block. Shak.
Syn. -- To maltreat; abuse; misemploy; misapply.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Misuse, n.
1. Wrong use; misapplication; erroneous or improper use. Words little suspected for any such misuse. Locke.
2. Violence, or its effects. [Obs.] Shak.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for misuse; he lists it under abuse.
Where he writes about it:
Misemploy, misuse, and pervert are commonly applied to objects rather than to persons. — from abuse