misappropriate
verb
mis·ap·pro·pri·ate
ˌmi-sə-ˈprō-prē-ˌāt 
misappropriated; misappropriating; misappropriates
: to appropriate wrongly (as by theft or embezzlement)
Examples of misappropriate in a Sentence
They accused him of misappropriating town funds.
a financial manager misappropriating funds from her clients' accounts
Recent Examples on the Web
In corroborating much of the testimony Pentagon intelligence official David Grusch offered in July 2023, Elizondo also accused the Department of Defense of hiding its UFO programs from Congress while misappropriating funds to operate them.
—
Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
In early August, for example, NABU and SAPO exposed a criminal group of political, military, and business figures that had misappropriated funds allocated by local authorities for the purchase of drones and electronic warfare systems.
—Daria Kaleniuk, Foreign Affairs, 3 Sep. 2025
The Bar’s audit accused Hernandez of misappropriating anywhere from $169,000 to $381,000, and the Bar successfully requested Hernandez receive an emergency suspension.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2025
She is also accused of misappropriated the victim’s money at least 45 times from June 2021 through November 2022, Gerace added.
—Fox19 Staff, Cincinnati Enquirer, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for misappropriate
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Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
In early August, for example, NABU and SAPO exposed a criminal group of political, military, and business figures that had misappropriated funds allocated by local authorities for the purchase of drones and electronic warfare systems.
—Daria Kaleniuk, Foreign Affairs, 3 Sep. 2025
The Bar’s audit accused Hernandez of misappropriating anywhere from $169,000 to $381,000, and the Bar successfully requested Hernandez receive an emergency suspension.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2025
She is also accused of misappropriated the victim’s money at least 45 times from June 2021 through November 2022, Gerace added.
—Fox19 Staff, Cincinnati Enquirer, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for misappropriate
Cite this Entry
“Misappropriate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misappropriate. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
misappropriate
verb
mis·ap·pro·pri·ate
ˌmis-ə-ˈprō-prē-ˌāt
: to appropriate wrongly
especially
: to take dishonestly for one's own use
Legal Definition
misappropriate
transitive verb
mis·ap·pro·pri·ate
ˌmi-sə-ˈprō-prē-ˌāt
: to appropriate wrongfully or unlawfully (as by theft or embezzlement)
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