What is the corresponding adjective derived from the verb "misuse"? [closed]
From the word abuse we can derive the adjective abusive by adding the suffix -ive.
Can we form an adjective starting from misuse? If so, what is the adjectival form of the word misuse? Is it misusive?
If you think this is not correct, do you have any suggestions, or do you know any synonyms for it that don’t share the same root?
I don't see it in any online dictionary or law dictionary I've checked so far, and the spellchecker here certainly doesn't care for it. However, this adjective is used. Not finding it in a dictionary, I would avoid it for common usage. It's rare in print, but it may be more common in legal language or specialized fields.
Subsection 245(4) is where the concept of abusive avoidance transaction originates but instead of using abusive it uses misuse. The simultaneity of the verb misuse and the adjective abusive has to be acknowledge otherwise most of the subsequent cases would be using "misusive avoidance transaction" as opposed to "abusive avoidance transaction". That would indeed be an uncomfortable outcome. Playing with Players: The Sacred and Profane Meanderings of a Tax Auditor (2020) p.168
...it has been held that invocation of privilege would be "frivolous" or "misusive". (1992) ref
Children's awareness and acceptance of their own sexuality will impact on their ability to accurately recognize a sexually misusive advance... ref (1990)
the speech-language pathologist, whose responsibility is evaluating and treating specific abusive/misusive behaviors of the speaking voice. Voice Therapy (2017)
I would normally have read the last example and assumed misusive would be found under misuse. It's of note that your question and both the first and last examples contrast misusive and abusive.
Perverse is probably the closest commonly used adjective.
OED:
1a. Of a person, action, etc.: going or disposed to go against what is reasonable, logical, expected, or required; contrary, fickle, irrational.
1906 J. Galsworthy Man of Prop. 72 A distaste born perhaps by the perverse processes of Nature out of a secret fund of brutality in himself.
1987 P. Farmer Away from Home (1988) 52 She just says, ‘So what?’ knowing she is being perverse, but not caring in the slightest.
2b. Contrary to an accepted standard or practice; incorrect, mistaken, wrong; (of an argument, interpretation, etc.) unjustifiable, contradictory, distorted.
1910 Times 27 Apr. 6/4 This department was open to the imputation either of ignorance of the law or of a perverse interpretation of it.
2000 G. R. Evans Bernard of Clairvaux ii. 36 It would be a perverse understanding of the meaning of obedience if a higher duty (to do right) was disregarded for the sake of a lower (the duty to obey one's abbot).