1
as in wrongdoing
improper or illegal behavior
some rough play got the hockey player fined for misconduct on the ice
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2
as in adultery
a sexual encounter or relationship between a married person and someone other than their spouse
both parties cited misconduct as the reason for the divorce
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to abuse
to manage badly
misconducted the polar expedition and paid for his mistakes with his life
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of misconduct
Victoria Bekiempis, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2025
His misconduct, from posing as an arson investigator during the worst wildfires in Los Angeles history to aiming lasers at the cockpits of commercial and law enforcement aircraft, repeatedly put lives at risk, according to prosecutors.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2025
That gap gives congregations wide latitude to hire and restore youth pastors, worship leaders and other associate ministers — including those with histories of misconduct.
—Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 30 Oct. 2025
Many employees may not want to confide in the HR department, several councilors argued, so long as it's housed within the same administration where Cook's alleged misconduct took place.
—Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for misconduct
Noun
That same day, Abernathy was one of five women who accused Simmons of misconduct in a Los Angeles Times article.
—Victoria Bekiempis, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2025
His misconduct, from posing as an arson investigator during the worst wildfires in Los Angeles history to aiming lasers at the cockpits of commercial and law enforcement aircraft, repeatedly put lives at risk, according to prosecutors.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2025
That gap gives congregations wide latitude to hire and restore youth pastors, worship leaders and other associate ministers — including those with histories of misconduct.
—Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 30 Oct. 2025
Many employees may not want to confide in the HR department, several councilors argued, so long as it's housed within the same administration where Cook's alleged misconduct took place.
—Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for misconduct
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misconduct
Noun
-
Ratcliffe recently referred evidence of Brennan’s wrongdoing to FBI Director Kash Patel for potential prosecution, according to Fox.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Neither is convinced by Nixon’s denials of wrongdoing during Watergate.—
Elizabeth B. Kim,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Bianca filed for divorce on the grounds of adultery in 1978, a year after Mick started seeing model Jerry Hall.—
Marina Watts,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
-
As China’s economy has grown, so too has its incidence of adultery.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The pair also pretended that Tammy was allegedly abusing them.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
9 Nov. 2025
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In handing down the sentence, Montenegro said Bonillo understood the scope of his misdeeds, abused his position of trust and used that position to enrich himself while undermining CBP’s main goal.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The first accounts of cheating and payoffs during exam week surfaced—a blow to the belief in fairness on which the whole system of guilds depended.—
George Packer,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
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As the film begins, a mother (Kim Hye-soo) and her young daughter (Park Yeon-ah) have just moved into a new apartment after Mom caught Dad cheating.—
Katie Rife,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Stay away from windows as flying debris generated by damaging winds can be deadly.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Nov. 2025
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According to Brown, Hurricane Michael damaged 80 percent of the park’s namesake trees, but through a project with the Florida Park Service and Atlanta Botanical Garden, seeds obtained from living trees are being grown and planted in the ravine habitat at Torreya State Park.—
Carrie Honaker,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
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In August 2024, the Hales Corners Library Board voted unanimously to keep the books in the library's circulation and concluded Lewis-Lane and library staff did not violate library policies.—
Adrienne Davis,
jsonline.com,
5 Nov. 2025
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But Comey's attorneys raised separate concerns that by using those materials at all, the government may have violated Comey's rights -- not just by reviewing potentially privileged information, but also by revisiting evidence obtained by warrants that would now be considered stale.—
Alexander Mallin,
ABC News,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
But a ruling class that systematically blinds itself to the most profound longings of human beings will misunderstand and misgovern those under its sway.—
Benjamin and Jenna Storey,
WSJ,
12 Oct. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Misconduct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misconduct. Accessed 30 Nov. 2025.
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