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
Using the wrong cleaners, such as ammonia and glass cleaner, can cause permanent streaks and damage. Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 23 June 2025 Tracking numbers are fake or show delivery to the wrong location. Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 22 June 2025
Noun
Arnold Palmer luckily did, and proceeded to right the wrong. John Tamny, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025 Having real liquid, especially a hot one, adds to the risk that an actor will swallow wrong and choke a bit, or accidentally spill the drink; either action can mess up a scene and force a time- and money-consuming retake. Rich Heldenfels, Boston Herald, 1 June 2025
Adverb
Lee, whose debut season with the Giants lasted just 37 games because of a shoulder injury, missed about a week because of back tightness from what the team said was from sleeping wrong. Laurence Miedema, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2025 At the time, Melvin said that Lee slept on it wrong and considered the injury to be minor. Justice Delos Santos, The Mercury News, 17 Mar. 2025
Verb
The movie shows that those who’ve been wronged — for protesting unfair working conditions or appearing immodestly dressed in public — are now united by their mistreatment. Peter Debruge, Variety, 20 May 2025 Rather than using the salvation of Tommy as an excuse to inadvertently kill those who wronged her, Ellie’s bloodlust is on full display to Dina. Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 5 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for wrong
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wrong
Adjective
  • In April 2021, the European Commission proposed a draft of the Artificial Intelligence Act, aimed at introducing a system of AI classification based on risks to users (minimal, limited, high, unacceptable).
    Olena Orliuk, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
  • Anything less is unacceptable to the Bosteros, as Boca’s fans are known.
    James Horncastle, New York Times, 16 June 2025
Adjective
  • More: Biden to create two new national monuments in California The Justice Department determined an opinion from the U.S. Attorney General nearly a century ago was incorrect.
    Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 13 June 2025
  • Earlier this year, the company’s shareholders voted against a proposal to halt shipments of arms to Israel on the grounds that premise of the proposal was incorrect.
    Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 13 June 2025
Adjective
  • What if the user is in an inappropriate environment?
    Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 14 June 2025
  • The constable’s office was notified of the inappropriate request June 10 when the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force came into contact with Slusher’s request, officials said in a news release.
    Kate Linderman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 June 2025
Adjective
  • However, this setup is relatively inflexible, as minor displacements or changes require recalibration, often resulting in erroneous test results.
    Prasad Banala, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
  • Thursday, the Cubs jumped the gun and announced the new pope was a fan on their Wrigley Field marquee after an erroneous report on ABC.
    Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 14 May 2025
Adjective
  • In the age of print, Hamburg was the birthplace of magazine publishing, and Paris the birthplace of the literary review and the gossip rag; but restless, immoral London was where the advice column first transformed people’s private lives into object lessons for ethical behavior.
    Merve Emre, New Yorker, 16 June 2025
  • The film gathers immoral cops, ruthless women and corrupt politicians to complete the world of populist cinema based in hinterlands of India.
    Sweta Kaushal, Forbes.com, 14 June 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
  • In her dissent, Sotomayor faulted the court for turning a blind eye to injustice.
    David G. Savage, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2025
  • Yet environmental injustices rarely announce themselves that clearly.
    Monica Sanders, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
Adverb
  • The soldier had been badly injured in a shootout in Kursk with a Ukrainian fighter from the 8th regiment whose call sign is Bulat.
    Joanna Kakissis, NPR, 16 June 2025
  • The officers are not believed to have been badly hurt and were released from Bellevue Hospital Monday evening.
    Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 16 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Wrong.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wrong. Accessed 29 Jun. 2025.

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