misapply

"The district court’s consideration of the FTC's primary claim at trial shows that the court did not misapply the law," Microsoft said.

From Reuters ● Jul. 14, 2023

"Through this deception, Murdaugh was able to embezzle and/or fraudulently misapply the funds that were intended to be paid to Tony and Brian," the filing says.

From Fox News ● Sep. 28, 2021

Legal scholars say the Founding Fathers, who were themselves accused of treason by the British, sought to clearly articulate it because they knew the potential to misapply it to legitimate dissent.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 12, 2021

How appropriate on the Ides of March that George F. Will should misapply a classical reference.

From Washington Post ● Mar. 27, 2020

“Upon my word, Emma, to hear you abusing the reason you have, is almost enough to make me think so too. Better be without sense, than misapply it as you do.”

From "Emma" by Jane Austen

"It is a textbook case of science misapplied and ethics ignored," Shahzad Gani and Krishna Achutarao wrote in The Hindu newspaper.

From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2025

The court found that Ofcom had misapplied Rule 5.3 of the code, saying the provision only applies to "news programmes" and not to current affairs shows, such as the one Sir Jacob hosts.

From BBC ● Feb. 28, 2025

When a larger group of judges reviewed the decision, some found that the smaller panel had misapplied the law — but they were overruled.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2024

Yoo’s record reminds us that the law can be misapplied and used as an enabler, rather than as a restraint on unlawful power.

From Salon ● Jul. 17, 2024

The elementary-school topic of percentages is continually being misapplied.

From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos

These include mass layoffs, angry and alienated customers, and the destruction of a huge amount of value at companies that are misapplying it.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 21, 2026

The committee reviewed the calls and thought officials were, in many cases, misapplying a new directive prohibiting a defender from landing on a quarterback with most or all of his body weight.

From Washington Post ● Sep. 22, 2021

The NBA said the officials — crew chief James Capers, Kevin Scott and John Butler — were disciplined for misapplying the challenge rule.

From Reuters ● Dec. 9, 2019

“Financial education isn’t going to stop a company from misapplying your mortgage payment or the wrongful repossession of a car,” observes Linda Jun, a senior policy counsel at Americans for Financial Reform.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 18, 2019

I wouldn't be so afflicted as you," she growled under her breath, like a small Mrs. Partington, misapplying her big word in her wrath, "for all the world.

From The Madigans by Orson Lowell