How to pronounce misuse
Say it like mih-SYOOZ. Misuse has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SYOOZ).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce misuse. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- mih
- SYOOZ
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Misuse pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- mihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- SYOOZSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of misuse
American and British speakers say misuse in essentially the same way: /mɪˈsjuz/ in the US and /mɪˈsjuːz/ in the UK.
British respelling: mih-SYOOZ.
What does misuse mean?
- improper or excessive use“alcohol abuse”“the abuse of public funds”
- 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”
- change the inherent purpose or function of something“Don't abuse the system”“The director of the factory misused the funds intended for the health care of his workers”
Where does misuse come from?
From mis- + use (noun).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with misuse
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of misuse.
Questions about saying misuse
How do you pronounce misuse?
Say mih-SYOOZ. The American pronunciation is /mɪˈsjuz/. In British English it is /mɪˈsjuːz/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in misuse?
Misuse has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SYOOZ). Broken into parts: mih · SYOOZ.
Do Americans and Brits say misuse the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /mɪˈsjuz/ and the British form is /mɪˈsjuːz/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.