1
as in crime
a breaking of a moral or legal code
the sordid misdoings of the city councilman were exposed as a result of an intense investigation by the local newspaper
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in wrongdoing
improper or illegal behavior
kept a watchful eye for any misdoing by the members of the clergy
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 misdoing
When Whitney accuses her of lying to cover up her misdoings, everything explodes.
—
Tom Smyth, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025
Certainly in the reign of J. Edgar Hoover, the role of the bureaucracy, and Hoover’s role actually, was more often to aid Presidents in their misdoings, amid some of his own.
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2019
An American journalist seeking to write about the rich celebrities instead learns about financial, political and treasonous misdoings – even murder.
—Carole Goldberg, courant.com, 3 July 2019
Yet, the very reality of 2018 is that Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court Justice nomination pushed the seemingly consequence-free misdoings of those attending the country’s elite prep schools into the news cycle.
—Veronica Walsingham, Teen Vogue, 5 Oct. 2018
This is not the first time Facebook has had to publicly increase previous estimates of misdoings on its platform.
—Issie Lapowsky, WIRED, 4 Apr. 2018
South Korean politicians accused of misdoing often apologize for causing trouble while still denying wrongdoing.
—Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2018
All of the angst could have been avoided if not for some political misdoings.
—Joe Haakenson, Daily Pilot, 21 Dec. 2017
Reports about financial misdoings, the possible collapse of venerable institutions, rising unemployment caused by advanced technology — all of these affected the psychology of spending.
—Robert J. Shiller, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2016
Tom Smyth, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025
Certainly in the reign of J. Edgar Hoover, the role of the bureaucracy, and Hoover’s role actually, was more often to aid Presidents in their misdoings, amid some of his own.
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2019
An American journalist seeking to write about the rich celebrities instead learns about financial, political and treasonous misdoings – even murder.
—Carole Goldberg, courant.com, 3 July 2019
Yet, the very reality of 2018 is that Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court Justice nomination pushed the seemingly consequence-free misdoings of those attending the country’s elite prep schools into the news cycle.
—Veronica Walsingham, Teen Vogue, 5 Oct. 2018
This is not the first time Facebook has had to publicly increase previous estimates of misdoings on its platform.
—Issie Lapowsky, WIRED, 4 Apr. 2018
South Korean politicians accused of misdoing often apologize for causing trouble while still denying wrongdoing.
—Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2018
All of the angst could have been avoided if not for some political misdoings.
—Joe Haakenson, Daily Pilot, 21 Dec. 2017
Reports about financial misdoings, the possible collapse of venerable institutions, rising unemployment caused by advanced technology — all of these affected the psychology of spending.
—Robert J. Shiller, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2016
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misdoing
Noun
-
Actresses of a certain age are henceforth barred from investigating crimes on TV.—
Graham Hillard,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Gatewood had been tasked with overseeing the Johnson administration's efforts to address the root causes of crime and violence in Chicago and coming up with a plan for public safety.—
Sabrina Franza,
CBS News,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
As part of the settlement, the sheriff's office did not admit any wrongdoing.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
18 Mar. 2026
-
The Tribune is not naming him because he has not been charged with any wrongdoing related to the blaze.—
Caroline Kubzansky,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Maricopa County health inspectors cited nine metro Phoenix gas stations and markets for several priority food safety violations during the week of March 2.—
Paige Moore,
AZCentral.com,
19 Mar. 2026
-
By Rachel Smith Environmental groups said the state of Colorado is not doing enough to stop ongoing pollution violations from the Suncor refinery.—
Rachel Smith,
CBS News,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Their first trial had ended in a hung during, and the second has been delayed twice as an investigation grows around alleged misconduct from a State Police officer who investigated their case.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Democrats have sought to require body cameras and judicial warrants for arrests, forbid the use of masks and expand the ability to sue DHS for alleged misconduct.—
Bloomberg Wire,
Dallas Morning News,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
To soak up the sins of the early morning dancefloor, kudos must be paid to the 24-hour room service.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 Mar. 2026
-
The country had yet to hold the first Marcos to account for plunder and human-rights abuses, and this election seemed an exoneration of both his and Rodrigo Duterte’s sins.—
Sheila Coronel,
The Atlantic,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Misdoing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misdoing. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
