misrule

1 of 2

verb

mis·​rule ˌmis-ˈrül How to pronounce misrule (audio)
misruled; misruling; misrules
Synonyms of misrulenext

transitive verb

: to rule incompetently : misgovern

misrule

2 of 2

noun

1
: the action of misruling : the condition of being misruled
The people endured many years of misrule.
2
: disorder, anarchy

Synonyms of misrule

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Verb

Noun

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Examples of misrule in a Sentence

Verb accused of misruling his island nation to the point of economic collapse Noun The people of that country have endured many years of misrule. the country's long period of misrule had made it a hotbed for terrorist organizations
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
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
Noun
As the landscape was brought back under control, its wilder elements came to be regarded with ever more suspicion and distrust, as a symbol of earlier misrule. — Literary Hub, 30 July 2026 Expectations are now rising over the role the United States will play in helping Venezuela, which had already been laid low by decades of misrule. — Emma Bubola Jenna Russell Raj Saha Adam Liptak, New York Times, 27 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for misrule

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of misrule was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing misrule

Rhymes for misrule

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Browse Nearby Words

misroute
misrule
misrun
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Cite this Entry

“Misrule.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misrule. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

misrule

1 of 2 verb
mis·​rule (ˈ)mis-ˈrül How to pronounce misrule (audio)
: to rule or govern badly

misrule

2 of 2 noun
1
: the action of misruling : the state of being misruled
2
: disorder entry 2 sense 1, anarchy

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