misemploy
Use skills poorly
To misemploy is to use something or someone wrongly or ineffectively—putting resources, skills, or time to poor use.
The word suggests waste through improper application rather than mere idleness: The company misemployed her talents in a dead-end position.
A slightly formal alternative to misuse, emphasizing deployment in the wrong direction.
Use incorrectly
- misappropriateWrongly take another's assets
- misallocateDistribute to wrong place
- misdirectLead away from truth
- mismanageHandle duties poorly
mishandle · pervert · abuse · exploit · corrupt · divert · squander · waste
Failing to achieve results
- ineffectiveLacking power to achieve
- futileIncapable of producing results
- fruitlessProducing no useful outcome
- idleWithout activity or purpose
purposeless · pointless · unavailing · ineffectual · unsuccessful · unprofitable · impractical · counterproductive
misapply
Use incorrectly
- misappropriateWrongly take another's assets
- misallocateDistribute to wrong place
- misdirectLead away from truth
mismanage · mishandle · pervert · abuse · exploit · corrupt · divert · squander · waste · misspend
unproductive
Failing to achieve results
- ineffectiveLacking power to achieve
- futileIncapable of producing results
- fruitlessProducing no useful outcome
idle · purposeless · pointless · unavailing · ineffectual · unsuccessful · unprofitable · impractical · counterproductive · bungle
squander
Use up carelessly
exhaust · overconsume · overuse · drain · expend · misspend · lavish · blow · burn · prodigal