AMISS Synonyms: 211 Similar and Opposite Words

amiss 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of amiss

as in defective

having a fault that engine noise indicates that something is clearly amiss

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

amiss

2 of 2

adverb

ə-ˈmis

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

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

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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 amiss

Adjective

Lum resigned from the High Museum in December after the institution’s board realized something was amiss and accused him of theft. — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 14 July 2026 Grubs or Holes Holes all throughout your lawn are an obvious sign that something is amiss. — Melissa Epifano, The Spruce, 12 July 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

And since Jace’s death, she’s treated Baela as nothing more than a defective surveillance drone — a worthless piece of tech that never spots Vhagar.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in San Diego County Superior Court, accuses Amazon of selling defective tabletop alcohol-burning fire pits despite a ban on the products in two countries and their link to two deaths and about 60 injuries since 2019.

— Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of defective

Adjective

The company’s investment in the hedge fund, as well as wrong-way bets in Asian equity markets, drove part of the losses, said the person, who asked not to be identified citing private details.

— Katherine Doherty, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026
Maybe in this new era, more things will go right than wrong for the Mets.

— Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of wrong

Adverb

Some commentators have incorrectly characterized the memo as authorizing cyber letters of marque or privateers.

— Jill Goldenziel, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Kylese Perryman claims his rights were violated, saying investigators carelessly and incorrectly identified him as the man responsible for a violent felony.

— Ubah Ali, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of incorrectly

Adverb

Even when off-the-shelf software fit badly, most companies still bought it because the alternative was too expensive to justify.

— Andrew Siemer, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Although the country has been badly damaged by war, the regime remains intact, and its regional power has grown.

— MARC LYNCH, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of badly

Adjective

Sensing a disconnect or worse, a feeling of being forgotten, Campbell this summer invited some of the men who wrote those letters to campus.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
Dry weather periods are expected in Colorado, and wildfires tend to be worse during these times.

— Callie Zanandrie, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of bad

Adjective

When requirements are unclear, AI may make incorrect assumptions that compound over multiple iterations.

— Son Nguyen, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
The senators also noted that grants were canceled out of the blue with form letters, which had contradictory explanations and incorrect citations.

— Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of incorrect

Adverb

When one of the Fox sportscasters mistook Matt Damon for Brad Pitt, several news organizations mistakenly reported that Pitt was there.

— Bobby Allyn, NPR, 13 Aug. 2026
Summary Many companies mistakenly equate identifying high-potential leaders with actually developing them, leading to costly succession failures.

— Roberta Matuson, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of mistakenly

Adjective

Abrams is a player who is both imperfect and essential to a team that has far exceeded its gloomy preseason projections.

— Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
The anticapitalist utopia in The Dispossessed is imperfect, but the book is mind-expanding, opening up new ways to think about what’s possible.

— Carline Tromp, The Dial, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of imperfect

Cite this Entry

Style

“Amiss.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/amiss. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of amiss

adjective

adverb

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