misappropriates
Diverts entrusted money
Misappropriates means to take something—usually money or resources—for an improper or unauthorized purpose, especially when entrusted with its care.
The word implies a breach of trust rather than outright theft: The treasurer misappropriates club funds for personal expenses.
It appears most often in financial, legal, and institutional contexts.
Fraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- peculationTheft of entrusted assets
- defalcationMisappropriation of entrusted funds
- siphoningDrawing liquid through tube
- skimmingPassing lightly over
pocketing · pilferage · diversion · misapplication · funneling · cooking the books · creative accounting · trust violation
Assigns improperly
- misdirectsSends the wrong way
- misappliesUses inappropriately or incorrectly
- divertsTurns aside from course
- exploitsNotable daring actions
abuses · perverts · wastes · squanders · mismanages · unauthorized use
Unlawful taking of property
- larcenyUnlawful taking of goods
- pilferingMinor, sneaky theft
- filchingStealing small items
- purloiningTaking without permission
thievery · plundering · looting · absconding · pocketing · snatching · taking · conversion
Corrupt payment for influence
- graftIllicit political gain
- extortionObtaining through threats
- cronyismFavoring friends in appointments
- nepotismPreferring kin in hiring
patronage · racketeering · money laundering · influence peddling · malfeasance · kleptocracy · backroom deals · conflict of interest
Deception for financial gain
- scamDishonest money-making scheme
- deceptionIntentional misleading of others
- forgeryCreating fraudulent imitations
- falsificationDeliberate alteration of truth
counterfeit · dupery · trickery · chicanery · flimflam · con · fraudster · shell company
embezzlement
Fraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- peculationTheft of entrusted assets
- defalcationMisappropriation of entrusted funds
- siphoningDrawing liquid through tube
skimming · pocketing · pilferage · diversion · misapplication · funneling · cooking the books · creative accounting · trust violation · asset stripping
misallocates
Assigns improperly
- misdirectsSends the wrong way
- misappliesUses inappropriately or incorrectly
- divertsTurns aside from course
exploits · abuses · perverts · wastes · squanders · mismanages · unauthorized use
stealing
Unlawful taking of property
purloining · thievery · plundering · looting · absconding · pocketing · snatching · taking · conversion
bribery
Corrupt payment for influence
- graftIllicit political gain
- extortionObtaining through threats
- cronyismFavoring friends in appointments
nepotism · patronage · racketeering · money laundering · influence peddling · malfeasance · kleptocracy · backroom deals · conflict of interest · official misconduct
swindle
Deception for financial gain
- scamDishonest money-making scheme
- deceptionIntentional misleading of others
- forgeryCreating fraudulent imitations
falsification · counterfeit · dupery · trickery · chicanery · flimflam · con · fraudster · shell company · Ponzi scheme
misappropriatesrestores
Returns to previous state
returns · repays · reimburses · gives back · contributes
misappropriate, misappropriation, misappropriated, misappropriating