improperly

adverb

as in incorrectly
in a mistaken or inappropriate way the manufacturer's warranty is no longer valid if the appliance is used improperly

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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 improperly Callaway was charged with violating his oath of office, improperly requesting or sharing criminal history information, unlawfully retaining license plate data and three counts of stalking. — Christopher Harris, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026 Georgia has seen dozens of cases of law enforcement agents improperly using data from Flock cameras, leading to resignations, suspensions and even arrests. — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 11 Aug. 2026 The suit reportedly claims that several key components of hospital protocol were ignored or improperly followed, directly contributing to Carradine’s death. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Aug. 2026 Hospices provide crucial services and care to patients at the end of their lives, but hospice fraud can also be devastating for those improperly enrolled. — Jason Henry, Daily News, 9 Aug. 2026 Chicago authorities are investigating a South Side funeral home after more than 50 bodies were discovered improperly stored and in various states of decomposition Thursday. — Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2026 In 2025, a crematory in south suburban Chicago Heights owned by Clark Morgan was shut down by state officials after the remains of more than 100 bodies were found improperly stored. — Allison Kiehl, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026 The medical examiner’s office had been notified by Illinois and Chicago officials of decedents being improperly stored, the Cook County government news release said. — Diego Mendoza, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026 If that data is stolen or used improperly, a child or family member could face harassment or worse, depending on the nature of the person behind the exploit. — Justyn Newman, PC Magazine, 7 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for improperly
  1. incorrectly
  2. mistakenly
  3. erroneously
  4. inappropriately
Adverb
  • The lawsuit argued that the new rules incorrectly preempt states’ powers to regulate how the interest generated by mortgage escrow accounts is handled.
    — P.R. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Wangsaporn incorrectly told Kim that Rhiannon Do no longer worked for Warner Wellness, the auditor said.
    — Tony Saavedra, Oc Register, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of incorrectly
Adverb
  • In January, Trooper Joshua Fitzgerald mistakenly rammed the wrong vehicle during a pursuit on Interstate 630 in Little Rock.
    — Grant Lancaster, Arkansas Online, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Consider a scenario in which an AI agent mistakenly updates thousands of customer records or pushes inaccurate data into multiple business systems.
    — Rick Vanover, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of mistakenly
Adverb
  • Jimmy Coe, for example, said in an email to the larger airport that during his visit to Orlando in 2022, his taxi driver erroneously drove him to the Orlando airport instead of the Sanford airport where his Allegiant flight was departing.
    — Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Police also dispelled misinformation that had been circulating online about the suspect’s identity, saying that some social media posts had erroneously identified a different individual as the suspect.
    — Chantelle Lee, Time, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of erroneously
Adverb
  • Axios first reported allegations in May about Edwards allegedly having behaved inappropriately toward his young female staff.
    — Jeff Ballou, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Police in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, released surveillance video of a suspect accused of inappropriately touching a 12-year-old girl inside a Dollar Tree store Monday afternoon.
    — Madeleine Wright, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of inappropriately

Browse Nearby Words

improper
improperly
improperness
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Cite this Entry

“Improperly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/improperly. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on improperly

Nglish: Translation of improperly for Spanish Speakers

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