misappropriated
Stolen for oneself
Misappropriated describes something taken or used wrongly, especially funds or resources diverted from their intended purpose.
The word typically implies betrayal of trust: The treasurer misappropriated club funds for personal expenses.
It can extend beyond money to other things wrongly claimed or applied: She felt her ideas had been misappropriated by colleagues.
Stole entrusted money
- peculationTheft of entrusted assets
- defalcationMisappropriation of entrusted funds
- siphonedMoved liquid via suction
- skimmedRead superficially
diverted · pilfered · pocketed · absconded · misapplied · fraud · larceny · cooked books
Taken unlawfully
- pilferedTook in small amounts
- purloinedTaken by theft
- filchedStole casually
- swipedTook illicitly or scanned
lifted · taken · plundered · looted · seized · dispossessed · asset stripping · property theft
Applied incorrectly
- abusedTreated harmfully or wrongly
- exploitedUnfairly utilized for benefit
- misappliedIncorrectly put to use
- mismanagedHandled badly or incompetently
squandered · misallocated · misdirected · wasted · perverted · diverted · unauthorized use · misemployed
Corrupt payment for influence
- graftIllicit political gain
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
- cronyismFavoring friends in appointments
- nepotismPreferring kin in hiring
malfeasance · profiteering · money laundering · influence peddling · payola · dirty money · backdoor deals · political corruption
Without official permit
- unsanctionedNot officially permitted
- illicitProhibited by law
- unlawfulForbidden by statute
- forbiddenNot allowed
prohibited · unpermitted · unentitled · without consent · unwarranted · illegitimate · access violation · breach of trust
Stolen from, especially violently
- plunderedForcibly took valuables
- repatriationFormal return to homeland
- artifactsHuman-made historical objects
- colonialOf occupied territories
antiquities · provenance · indigenous · sacred objects · patrimony · stolen art · illicit trade
embezzled
Stole entrusted money
- peculationTheft of entrusted assets
- defalcationMisappropriation of entrusted funds
- siphonedMoved liquid via suction
skimmed · diverted · pilfered · pocketed · absconded · misapplied · fraud · larceny · cooked books · financial misconduct
stolen
Taken unlawfully
swiped · lifted · taken · plundered · looted · seized · dispossessed · asset stripping · property theft
misused
Applied incorrectly
- abusedTreated harmfully or wrongly
- exploitedUnfairly utilized for benefit
- misappliedIncorrectly put to use
mismanaged · squandered · misallocated · misdirected · wasted · perverted · diverted · unauthorized use · misemployed · repurposed
bribery
Corrupt payment for influence
nepotism · malfeasance · profiteering · money laundering · influence peddling · payola · dirty money · backdoor deals · political corruption · patronage
unlicensed
Without official permit
- unsanctionedNot officially permitted
- illicitProhibited by law
- unlawfulForbidden by statute
forbidden · prohibited · unpermitted · unentitled · without consent · unwarranted · illegitimate · access violation · breach of trust
looted
Stolen from, especially violently
- plunderedForcibly took valuables
- repatriationFormal return to homeland
- artifactsHuman-made historical objects
colonial · antiquities · provenance · indigenous · sacred objects · patrimony · stolen art · illicit trade
misappropriatedauthorized
Given official permission
sanctioned · legal · above-board · proper
misappropriatedreturned
Went back again
restored · restituted · gave · donated · contributed
misappropriate, misappropriation, misappropriating, misappropriates