wrong 1 of 4

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
4
5
as in immoral
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable was caught doing something wrong

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

wrong

2 of 4

noun

wrong

3 of 4

adverb

wrong

4 of 4

verb

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
But there’s also darkness in Cherry’s past, including an ex-boyfriend who has either terribly wronged her or been terribly wronged by her. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2025 Tanner has quite the reputation as a ruthless crimelord, and is known for removing body parts of people who wrong him. Barry Levitt, Time, 28 Aug. 2025
Noun
The right side is nearly always wrong and blatantly lying, while the left side supposedly stumbles into falsehood every once in a while. Tim Graham, Boston Herald, 25 Oct. 2025 However, Amy didn't say anything else, which rubbed her the wrong way. Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
Adverb
The player himself is not motivated by proving United wrong, but rather to show up the critics who questioned his ability to be a top striker. Chris McKenna, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025 Business leaders, policy makers, and academics have the story of AI wrong. Jim Edwards, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
But doing it wrong—without the right resources, measurement, and speed—can waste budget, stall campaigns, and surrender market share to competitors. C200, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025 If the spelling still comes out wrong, try adjusting the phonetic spelling until the system gets it right. Ken Colburn, AZCentral.com, 18 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wrong
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wrong
Adjective
  • Denying people the essentials necessary for their survival, to obtain compliance or a political agreement, should be unacceptable.
    Anna Halford, Time, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Controversy arose earlier this year after residents, a council member and the mayor declared a cooling station set up for homeless residents and others without adequate heating and cooling as unacceptable.
    Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • An earlier version of this story contained incorrect information, and the story has been updated.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Terrebonne resident Emmanuelle Bossé told public broadcaster CBC Radio-Canada in May her ballot was returned to sender because of an incorrect postal code on the return envelope provided by the national elections commission.
    Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • This means exposing the shoulders, showing too much leg above the knees, or wearing clothing with crude or inappropriate imagery.
    Asia London Palomba, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Section 5 would've set new terms for challenging material that anyone may find inappropriate, and ultimately vest public local officials with the power to issue a final ruling on the dispute.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Some were hastily informed that their firings were erroneous, but the experience rattled the CDC, an agency tasked with overseeing the national response to seasonal respiratory illnesses at a time when those illnesses typically spike.
    Michael Hiltzik, Twin Cities, 16 Oct. 2025
  • An art review on Friday about two Lu Yang exhibits in New York attributed an erroneous distinction to Lu Yang’s current exhibition at the Museum of the Moving Image.
    New York Times, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • It was considered immoral to lie and the whole point of writing things down back then was to increase morality and improve society, so there really is no didactic history of forgery.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Unlike previous seasons, Dorothy never makes immoral choices.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • While working together on The Unit, David Mamet once told you that good drama isn’t a choice between good and bad; good drama is the choice between two bads.
    Max Gao, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Jan. 2025
  • Reports out of fall camp haven’t been super favorable to their offense, and while the defense will, again, be top-notch, a team with this bad of an offense cannot be trusted.
    Austin Mock, The Athletic, 19 Aug. 2024
Noun
  • Three or four decades ago, the newspaperman was appealingly raffish—at once a bum who drank too much and a knight-errant who charged unafraid at social injustice, succored the weak, and crossed lances with the powerful and arrogant.
    David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Most overt is the sweeping nationwide crime of rural impoverishment; then there are the endless tiny, daily injustices that result.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
Adverb
  • The €286m spent on players since 2022 has largely been spent badly and on other coaches.
    James Horncastle, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Of course, the behavior didn't seem to hurt of of their careers too badly.
    Gillian Telling, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Wrong.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wrong. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.

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