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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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
A pitch-framing specialist with rare agility behind the plate, Wolters must coax pitchers through Coors Field and its occasional malefactions.
—Orange County Register, 1 Apr. 2017
Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2022
A pitch-framing specialist with rare agility behind the plate, Wolters must coax pitchers through Coors Field and its occasional malefactions.
—Orange County Register, 1 Apr. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malefaction
Noun
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Upcoming, he’ll be seen in Blumhouse/Universal’s Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, as well as A24’s crime drama Primetime from director Lance Oppenheim.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
7 Aug. 2025
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The suspension follows a string of violent crimes, including an April homicide, and the owner’s admission of illegally selling alcohol well after the 2 a.m. cutoff.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The American Medical Association considers direct medical participation in executions a violation of health care ethics, further complicating procedures involving inmates with complex health considerations like Black.—
Tobias Meyjes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Aug. 2025
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But the chase is likely a violation of OPD’s policy on pursuits, which seeks to limit police chases to avoid danger to the public.—
Cristóbal Reyes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Don’t point to things with chopsticks or commit the double-dipping sin of taking food from a common plate with chopsticks that have been in your mouth.—
Jessica Kozuka,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Aug. 2025
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The water is meant to show thanks to god, or provide spiritual relief, including purifying the devotee’s soul of sin.—
Aishwarya S. Iyer,
CNN Money,
25 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Malefaction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malefaction. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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