misapplied

Of all the misused words in the lexicon of punditocracy, “courageous” is easily the word most often misapplied.

The biological doctrine of evolution was misinterpreted and misapplied to social policy.

Eric learned a great deal of harm from Upton, and the misapplied hero-worship led to bad results.

Could it be that Burleigh stood in need of all this money to cover other sums that he had misapplied?

Your money may be ill spent, your charity misapplied, but your piety never.

Drawing of blood was first invented for good and salutary purposes, although often abused and misapplied.