misdeed

noun

mis·​deed ˌmis-ˈdēd 

: a wrong deed : offense

Synonyms of misdeed

• crime
• violation
• sin
• wrongdoing

Examples of misdeed in a Sentence

She threatened to expose to the public the misdeeds he had committed.

punished for her misdeeds by the church elders

Recent Examples on the Web

Combs’ misdeeds took center stage in late 2023, when R&B artist and ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura accused him of rape and myriad forms of abuse in a bombshell lawsuit, which the two settled the following day. — Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2026

The editorial process is, of course, set up to root out any misdeeds. — Sabrina Jaszi, The Dial, 4 Aug. 2026

The alleged misdeeds occurred between 2002 and 2016 when the actor, now 54, was in his 30s and 40s. — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 29 July 2026

However, that same confidentiality also empowers terrorists and criminals to conceal their misdeeds—including the systemic abuse of millions of children. — Charlie Campbell, Time, 20 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for misdeed

• accede
• agreed
• airspeed
• alkyd
• bindweed
• chickweed
• concede
• decreed
• duckweed
• exceed
• flaxseed
• impede

Kids Definition

misdeed

noun

mis·​deed (ˈ)mis-ˈdēd 

: an evil or illegal deed