wrong 1 of 4

adjective

Definition of wrongnext
1
as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard there is something wrong with this cake—it has a funny taste

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2
as in incorrect
having an opinion that does not agree with truth or the facts I'm sorry, but the latest research proves you wrong

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3
as in inappropriate
not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation has a knack for saying just the wrong thing

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4
as in erroneous
not being in agreement with what is true her answer that Thomas Jefferson was the second president of the United States is wrong—it was John Adams, of course

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5
as in immoral
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable was caught doing something wrong

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

wrong

2 of 4

noun

ˈrȯŋ How to pronounce wrong (audio)
1
as in bad
that which is morally unacceptable any reasonable person should be expected to know the difference between right and wrong

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in injustice
unfair or inadequate treatment of someone or something or an instance of this trying to right all the wrongs in the world

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

wrong

3 of 4

adverb

as in badly
off the desired or intended path or course all of our carefully laid plans have gone wrong

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wrong

4 of 4

verb

as in to harm

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun wrong contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of wrong are grievance, injury, and injustice. While all these words mean "an act that inflicts undeserved hurt," wrong applies also in law to any act punishable according to the criminal code; it may apply more generally to any flagrant injustice.

determined to right society's wrongs

When might grievance be a better fit than wrong?

The words grievance and wrong are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, grievance applies to a circumstance or condition that constitutes an injustice to the sufferer and gives just ground for complaint.

a list of employee grievances

In what contexts can injury take the place of wrong?

Although the words injury and wrong have much in common, injury applies in law specifically to an injustice for which one may sue to recover compensation.

libel constitutes a legal injury

Where would injustice be a reasonable alternative to wrong?

The synonyms injustice and wrong are sometimes interchangeable, but injustice applies to any act that involves unfairness to another or violation of one's rights.

the injustices suffered by the lower classes

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 wrong
Adjective
Critics, and even some supporters, said Soto-Martínez was making his move at the wrong time. — Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026 But there is a right way and a wrong way to display the symbol of American pride freedom and even rules on what to do when your flag reaches the end of its life. — Sacbee.com, 3 July 2026
Noun
There was also a list of things that had been done wrong in the murder, including not removing the shell casings from the scene, Rouse said. — Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 24 June 2026 His core argument is that abundance carries hidden costs the effort of evaluating options, the fear of picking wrong and the nagging sense that some other choice might have been better. — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 23 June 2026
Adverb
In their collective view, a lot more had to go wrong before making such a move. — Will Sammon, New York Times, 26 June 2026 Getting any one of them wrong is recoverable. — Song Bac Toh, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Verb
Francis then sounded off on the critics and naysayers who have seemingly lined up to wrong him. — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026 This wasn’t an opportunity to defame someone or make this about how I’d been wronged. — Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for wrong
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wrong
  1. unacceptable
  2. incorrect
  3. inappropriate
  4. erroneous
  5. immoral
  6. bad
  7. injustice
  8. badly
Adjective
  • In their grievance letter, the detainees called the markups an unacceptable business practice with no apparent limit.
    — Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • Overt racial prejudice, long considered socially unacceptable, is increasingly visible in public life, marking a shift from previously subtle forms.
    — Maia Niguel Hoskin, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of unacceptable
Adjective
  • In 2024, Air Canada's AI agent gave a passenger incorrect information about bereavement fares.
    — Stu Sjouwerman, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
  • Even though talks with the Boston Red Sox at last year’s deadline never got close, the confusion provided by an incorrect tweet announcing Ryan’s trade to New England put the pitcher at the top of every trade list before the season even began.
    — Dan Hayes, New York Times, 6 July 2026
Definition of incorrect
Adjective
  • In some countries, such as Japan, tipping can even be viewed as awkward, inappropriate, and unnecessary as patrons eat, pay the bill, and simply leave.
    — Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
  • Some commenters felt the post was cringeworthy and inappropriate.
    — Richard Johnson, New York Daily News, 5 July 2026
Definition of inappropriate
Adjective
  • In addition, the trial judge gave the jury erroneous instructions, the appeals court ruled.
    — David Hilzenrath, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • But such fine evidence of the erroneous human touch in the publishing process is, of course, cherished by collectors of this day.
    — Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of erroneous
Adjective
  • Some rabbinic readings attribute Lot’s hesitation to leave Sodom to his immoral greed and inordinate wealth.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 July 2026
  • Court records show that 60-year-old Bradley Kyle Martin, of Dearborn Heights, is charged with using a computer or internet to communicate with another person to commit a crime and accosting children for immoral purposes.
    — DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 25 June 2026
Definition of immoral
Noun
  • In addition to public goods, AI will also create public bads.
    — James Broughel, Forbes.com, 8 June 2026
  • Naturally, the meeting is a flop because no one was prepared, and their spontaneous ideas are frankly fireable-offense bad (a baguette bag shaped like a baguette for Paris?
    — Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2025
Definition of bad
Noun
  • The Hanna’s Town Resolves, a document signed along Forbes Road in 1775 by citizens of Westmoreland County, protested the injustices of the British Parliament.
    — Salena Zito, Washington Post, 1 July 2026
  • Wherever Kelly Davis looked injustice in the eye, or inequity or the misuse of authority, outrage surely followed.
    — Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 July 2026
Definition of injustice
Adverb
  • Schumer badly misread the Democratic electorate and tried to clear the field for his preferred candidate, Maine’s 78-year-old governor, Janet Mills, leaving a vacuum that Platner filled.
    — Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 7 July 2026
  • Industrial policy fails not only when badly designed at the top.
    — Nili Gilbert, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of badly

Phrases Containing wrong

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written up
wrong
wrongdoer
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Cite this Entry

“Wrong.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wrong. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of wrong for Spanish Speakers

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