maladminister
Handle affairs poorly
To maladminister is to manage badly or incompetently, especially in an official capacity.
The word appears most often in legal and governmental contexts, where maladministration can be grounds for complaint or liability: The ombudsman found the agency had maladministered the grant program.
Less formal than mismanage but more specific to institutional failure.
Rule by one
- despotismAbsolute one-person rule
- dictatorshipUnchecked single-ruler government
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
- authoritarianismConcentrated, unchecked governmental power
totalitarianism · misrule · exploitation · abuse · overreach · heavy-handedness · suppression · repression
Mishandling through incompetence
- ineptitudeLack of ability
- blunderFoolish, costly mistake
- mishandleManage incompetently or roughly
- botchSpoil through incompetence
fumbling · unqualified · amateurish · ineffectiveness · incapacity · inadequacy · untrained · unskilled
Corrupt payment for influence
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- graftIllicit political gain
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
extortion · money laundering · kleptocracy · profiteering · looting · skimming · nepotism · cronyism
Abandonment of duty
- oversightSupervision or inadvertent omission
- neglectFailure to provide care
- carelessnessInattention causing mistakes
- inattentionLack of focus
laxity · disregard · omission · nonfeasance · irresponsibility · heedlessness · remissness · slipshod
Rigid administrative system
- red tapeBureaucratic obstacles to action
- misallocationImproper distribution of resources
- wasteUnwanted discarded material
- delayEnforced waiting period
stagnation · disorganization · unresponsiveness · gridlock · dysfunction · underperformance · bloat · inertia
autocracy
Rule by one
- despotismAbsolute one-person rule
- dictatorshipUnchecked single-ruler government
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
authoritarianism · totalitarianism · misrule · exploitation · abuse · overreach · heavy-handedness · suppression · repression · injustice
bungling
Mishandling through incompetence
- ineptitudeLack of ability
- blunderFoolish, costly mistake
- mishandleManage incompetently or roughly
botch · fumbling · unqualified · amateurish · ineffectiveness · incapacity · inadequacy · untrained · unskilled · deficient
bribery
Corrupt payment for influence
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- graftIllicit political gain
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
fraud · extortion · money laundering · kleptocracy · profiteering · looting · skimming · nepotism · cronyism · patronage
dereliction
Abandonment of duty
- oversightSupervision or inadvertent omission
- neglectFailure to provide care
- carelessnessInattention causing mistakes
inattention · laxity · disregard · omission · nonfeasance · irresponsibility · heedlessness · remissness · slipshod · indifference
bureaucracy
Rigid administrative system
- red tapeBureaucratic obstacles to action
- misallocationImproper distribution of resources
- wasteUnwanted discarded material
delay · stagnation · disorganization · unresponsiveness · gridlock · dysfunction · underperformance · bloat · inertia · slowness
maladministermanage
Direct or handle successfully
govern · administrate · steward · husband · superintend