1
as in defective
having a fault
that engine noise indicates that something is clearly amiss
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in wrong
not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation
official recognition would not be amiss after that spectacular effort
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in incorrectly
in a mistaken or inappropriate way
I hope that my suggestion that you might be more comfortable in a larger chair was not taken amiss
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in awry
off the desired or intended path or course
the reenactment of the Wright Brothers' first flight went amiss when the wind died on the makeshift runway and the plane stopped short in a mud puddle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of amiss
Nafeesah Allen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 May 2026
Subtlety is good, but a drop more insight wouldn’t go amiss.
—
Jay Weissberg,
Variety,
19 May 2026
Leah Asmelash,
CNN,
21 Aug. 2019
This connectivity can provide a sense of brain organization, and there's a growing body of evidence that this organization goes amiss in those with neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders.
—
Diana Gitig,
Ars Technica,
12 Apr. 2018
See All Example Sentences for amiss
Adjective
Making homes inhospitable to pests is a sign of a good cleaning routine, but when insects start showing up, something is amiss.
—
Nafeesah Allen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 May 2026
Subtlety is good, but a drop more insight wouldn’t go amiss.
—
Jay Weissberg,
Variety,
19 May 2026
Adverb
The whole incident -- from realizing something was going amiss to hitting the water -- only lasted one or two minutes.
—
Leah Asmelash,
CNN,
21 Aug. 2019
This connectivity can provide a sense of brain organization, and there's a growing body of evidence that this organization goes amiss in those with neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders.
—
Diana Gitig,
Ars Technica,
12 Apr. 2018
See All Example Sentences for amiss
Recent Examples of Synonyms for amiss
Adjective
-
Boasberg issued a temporary restraining order and ordered that the planes be turned around, but Justice Department attorneys said his oral instructions directing the flight to be returned were defective, and the deportations proceeded as planned.
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For generations, Americans have debated consumer protection through the lens of defective products, predatory lenders, unsafe food, and identity theft.
Adjective
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Tom Kim dropped two shots at the wrong time and shot 72.
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Every traveler has a trip that went spectacularly wrong.
Adverb
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The three main types of non-compliance in labeling included fiber percentages not matching the actual material makeup, items containing different or cheaper fibers than those listed on the label, or simply incorrectly declaring or naming fibers on labeling.
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That conviction was overturned in 2024 when the New York Court of Appeals ruled that the trial judge incorrectly allowed other women whose allegations were not charged in the case to testify.
Adverb
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Corzo, who lived a number of years in Los Angeles, said his apartment is on the east side of Caracas, so it was not hit as badly by the earthquake as other parts of the city.
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At least eight hospitals, the headquarters of the Venezuelan Red Cross, and the French embassy were among buildings reported to have been badly damaged.
Adjective
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Are those still your worst fears?
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While a higher tracker error is not bad in and of itself, most investors become uncomfortable when their portfolio acts so differently from the index.
Adjective
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Govern From Day One In a regulated context, an assistant that produces a confident but incorrect answer carries genuine regulatory and reputational exposure.
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Many argue that signatures are invalid because signers listed incorrect addresses or live outside of the district the candidate wants to represent.
Adverb
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Alicent mistakenly believed Viserys was talking about their son Aegon II, saying Aegon II should be on the throne after Viserys dies, which lead to the Dance of the Dragons civil war.
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While the tool is supposed to flag potential noncitizens and deceased voters, a number of American citizens who are foreign-born have been mistakenly flagged as potential noncitizens by SAVE.
Adjective
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So any plan to keep the supporters of rival teams apart will be imperfect.
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Share something imperfect, and let joy lead excellence this time.
Cite this Entry
“Amiss.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/amiss. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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