MALEFACTION Synonyms: 55 Similar and Opposite Words

malefaction

noun

ˌma-lə-ˈfak-shən

Definition of malefaction

as in crime

a breaking of a moral or legal code the town treasurer has been linked to the kickback scheme and other financial malefactions

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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 malefaction And the principle remains that representing a malefactor isn’t, ipso facto, an act of malefaction. — Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2022

Recent Examples of Synonyms for malefaction

Noun

At the end of August, Peru declared a 60-day state of emergency in Lima and the port of Callao due to the rise in crime and created a committee of officials to coordinate the police.

— MATTHEW LEE, Arkansas Online, 11 Sep. 2026
Elements of supernatural fantasy mingle with the beats of a crime procedural as the sisters become the subjects of an investigation.

— Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of crime

Noun

Under Arkansas law, anyone selling alcohol on a Sunday without a permit can be found guilty of a violation fined up to $250.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2026
Both men were denied parole last year, in part because of their use of contraband cellphones and other violations of prison rules.

— James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of violation

Noun

So lets unpack all the sins and consequences, starting with those tied to the case John just closed.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 13 Sep. 2026
Some Jews may pray near a body of water in a Tashlich ceremony, tossing pieces of bread or other food into the water to symbolize sending off sins.

— Bailey Allen, The Providence Journal, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of sin

Browse Nearby Words

maledicts

malefaction

malefactions

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“Malefaction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malefaction. Accessed 16 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of malefaction

noun

Example Sentences

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