misemployed
Put to waste
Misemployed means used wrongly or for the wrong purpose.
A misemployed word is one chosen poorly for the context.
Misemployed resources are wasted on tasks that don't suit them.
The term suggests not absence of use but inappropriate application: His talents were misemployed in that dead-end job.
Applied incorrectly
- misappliedIncorrectly put to use
- misallocatedImproperly distributed or assigned
- misdirectedSent the wrong way
- misappropriatedTook dishonestly for personal use
squandered · wasted · abused · perverted · exploited · diverted · frittered · dissipated
Performed ineptly, failed
- botchedPoorly executed, spoiled
- fumbledHandled awkwardly, dropped
- blunderedMade a clumsy error
- ineptLacking skill or competence
unskilled · clumsy · awkward · amateurish · maladroit · ham-fisted · ineffectual · ineffective
Not fitting or appropriate
- ill-suitedNot appropriate for
- inappropriateNot suitable or fitting
- unfitNot suited for purpose
- mismatchedNot fitting together properly
miscast · out-of-place · incongruous · maladapted · improper · unbefitting · inapt · misplaced
Failing to achieve results
- futileIncapable of producing results
- fruitlessProducing no useful outcome
- pointlessLacking any purpose
- inefficientPoor at using resources
squandered · profligate · extravagant · depleted · overused · unnecessary · excessive · purposeless
misused
Applied incorrectly
- misappliedIncorrectly put to use
- misallocatedImproperly distributed or assigned
- misdirectedSent the wrong way
misappropriated · squandered · wasted · abused · perverted · exploited · diverted · frittered · dissipated · misspent
bungled
Performed ineptly, failed
inept · unskilled · clumsy · awkward · amateurish · maladroit · ham-fisted · ineffectual · ineffective · unqualified
unsuitable
Not fitting or appropriate
- ill-suitedNot appropriate for
- inappropriateNot suitable or fitting
- unfitNot suited for purpose
mismatched · miscast · out-of-place · incongruous · maladapted · improper · unbefitting · inapt · misplaced · ill-chosen
unproductive
Failing to achieve results
- futileIncapable of producing results
- fruitlessProducing no useful outcome
- pointlessLacking any purpose
inefficient · squandered · profligate · extravagant · depleted · overused · unnecessary · excessive · purposeless · unavailing