misgoverned
Poorly led nation
Misgoverned describes something ruled badly or incompetently.
A misgoverned country suffers from corruption, poor administration, or abuse of power: The misgoverned province fell into chaos.
The word implies that those in charge have failed their responsibilities to those they lead.
Incompetent handling of responsibilities
- maladministrationFaulty conduct of authority
- ineptLacking skill or competence
- ineffectiveLacking power to achieve
- bunglingMishandling through incompetence
disorganized · wasteful · dysfunctional · negligent · feckless · misrule · blundering · chaotic
Corrupt payment for influence
- graftIllicit political gain
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
- nepotismPreferring kin in hiring
cronyism · kleptocracy · venality · fraud · extortion · scandal · sleaze · profiteering
Exercising power unjustly
- despoticExercising absolute authority
- authoritarianFavoring absolute control
- dictatorialImposing absolute control
- totalitarianDictatorial, all-controlling regime
autocratic · repressive · draconian · heavy-handed · iron-fisted · brutal · coercive · unjust
Absence of governing rules
- anarchyDisorder from absent authority
- chaosComplete disorder and confusion
- disorderAbsence of organization
- turmoilViolent disturbance or confusion
instability · unrest · upheaval · strife · collapse · breakdown · fragmentation · volatility
mismanagement
Incompetent handling of responsibilities
- maladministrationFaulty conduct of authority
- ineptLacking skill or competence
- ineffectiveLacking power to achieve
bungling · disorganized · wasteful · dysfunctional · negligent · feckless · misrule · blundering · chaotic · rudderless
bribery
Corrupt payment for influence
- graftIllicit political gain
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
nepotism · cronyism · kleptocracy · venality · fraud · extortion · scandal · sleaze · profiteering · payola
tyrannical
Exercising power unjustly
- despoticExercising absolute authority
- authoritarianFavoring absolute control
- dictatorialImposing absolute control
totalitarian · autocratic · repressive · draconian · heavy-handed · iron-fisted · brutal · coercive · unjust · suppression
lawlessness
Absence of governing rules
- anarchyDisorder from absent authority
- chaosComplete disorder and confusion
- disorderAbsence of organization
turmoil · instability · unrest · upheaval · strife · collapse · breakdown · fragmentation · volatility · crisis
misgovernedwell-run
Competently organized and managed
orderly · stable · flourishing · thriving · prosperous