amiss

adverb

\ ə-ˈmis

Definition of amiss

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : in a mistaken way : wrongly If you think he is guilty, you judge amiss.

b : astray Something had gone amiss.

2 : in a faulty way : imperfectly practiced more so as not to play the piece amiss

amiss

adjective

Definition of amiss (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : not being in accordance with right order

2 : faulty, imperfect There's nothing/something amiss with the engine.

3 : out of place in given circumstances —usually used with a negative A few remarks may not be amiss here.

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about amiss

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Examples of amiss in a Sentence

Adverb

I hope that my suggestion that you might be more comfortable in a larger chair was not taken amiss. 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

Adjective

Some of his assumptions are amiss. The doctor's examination showed that nothing was amiss.

Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb

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, "Inflammation is bad, including for those in the womb," 12 Apr. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

When Sweden demanded an explanation of the radiation, the Soviets denied that anything was amiss. — Mona Charen, National Review, "Lessons of Chernobyl," 7 June 2019 Something was slightly amiss when Prince Charles ushered President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump into his sitting room for tea at his London palace on Monday: Unsightly litter on the floor. — Maria Puente, USA TODAY, "What WAS that thing on floor when Prince Charles hosted Trump for tea at Clarence House?," 3 June 2019 The second interpretation is simply that the standard cosmological picture is somehow amiss. — Steve Nadis, Discover Magazine, "We've Found Gravitational Waves. What Will We Learn From Them?," 24 May 2019 Although the picture was meant to be a sweet tribute to the hardworking cast and crew, fans noticed something was amiss. — Jennifer Aldrich, Country Living, "Eagle-Eyed 'Criminal Minds' Fans Are Calling Out Matthew Gray Gubler for This Photo," 25 May 2019 Team officials suspected something was amiss when Peterson abruptly requested a move to strong safety. — Dwight Perry / Sideline Chatter, The Seattle Times, "Sideline Chatter: But as Mars Blackmon taught us, ‘It’s gotta be the shoes’," 18 May 2019 After baking a batch of cookies with his three grandchildren, Melvin Albright realized something was amiss. — Alina Dizik, WSJ, "The Sum of the Parts of STEM Toys Can Equal a Giant Mess," 13 May 2019 Powered by wave action, wind power or solar panels, drones could operate for months or even years at a time, scanning large areas in swarms, monitoring environmental conditions and alerting human overseers when something looks amiss. — The Economist, "Avast, me hearties," 5 July 2018 Every moment of every day, the U.S. military and intelligence agencies have satellites in high-Earth orbit scouring the globe for anything amiss. — W.j. Hennigan, Time, "What If Hawaii's False Missile Alert Had Been Real? Here's What Would Happen Next," 14 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'amiss.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.