MISRULE Synonyms: 71 Similar and Opposite Words

misrule 1 of 2

noun

Definition of misrule

as in anarchy

a state in which there is widespread wrongdoing and disregard for rules and authority the country's long period of misrule left it in economic turmoil for over a decade

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

misrule

2 of 2

verb

ˌmis-ˈrül

as in to misconduct

to manage badly accused of misruling his island nation to the point of economic collapse

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of misrule

Noun

Soon, the story became buried in the avalanche of corruption and misrule that followed. — Terence McNamee, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Nov. 2025 But, after decades of misrule, the PA is wildly unpopular among Palestinians themselves. — Ilan Berman, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025

Verb

The result is a society that feels both rule-bound and misruled, saturated with laws and yet strangely lawless. — Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2025 Congo had been brutally misruled by Belgium for over 70 years when the winds of change blew through in the late 1950s. — Zachariah Mampilly, Foreign Affairs, 28 Feb. 2023 See All Example Sentences for misrule

Recent Examples of Synonyms for misrule

Noun

The mostly peaceful protests supporting recent student concerns, as well as working and middle-class economic worries, hijacked by those bent on anarchy.

— Greg Palkot, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026
After that, Afghanistan descended into anarchy, with bands of warlords grabbing turf, loot, women, and boys.

— Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of anarchy

Verb

The Utah Supreme Court ordered a new trial last year, pointing to misconduct by investigators.

— Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026
In addition, referees were instructed to apply the rules regarding fouls and misconducts more strictly – a move meant to protect players and their inventiveness.

— Cesar R. Torres, The Conversation, 26 May 2026

Definition of misconduct

Verb

After teenage boys first reported that they had been abused in 2005, Church of the Resurrection conducted an internal investigation that court records show was inconclusive.

— Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026
Acton’s campaign on Tuesday posted a video of her brother, who supported her backstory about living in a tent and being abused.

— Julie Carr Smyth, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of abuse

Verb

Rioters burned close to 6,000 vehicles and damaged over 1,000 buildings.

— Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 22 Oct. 2026
What that young girl saw damaged and scarred her heart; one wonders why the happy adults around her could not see the ugliness inherent in killing a fellow human being.

— Dr. Michael Good, Hartford Courant, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of damage

Verb

Founders often mismanage their crucial first sales hire, mistakenly seeking candidates suited for large corporations.

— Kate Morgan, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Target has been criticized for mismanaging inventory, under-investing in stores and falling behind on the trendy, eye-catching merchandise the retailer built its name on.

— Gabrielle Fonrouge, CNBC, 22 June 2026

Definition of mismanage

Verb

Meta has long been criticized for its data privacy practices, and on Wednesday, a New Mexico judge ordered the company to pay $25 billion for violating the state’s consumer protection laws.

— Andrew R. Chow, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
The company had previously said a penalty in the billions of dollars risked violating its constitutional rights to due process and protection from excessive fines.

— Reuters, NBC news, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of violate

Browse Nearby Words

misrepresents

misrule

misruled

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Misrule.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misrule. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of misrule

noun

verb

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