Synonyms of wrongful

wrongful

adjective

ˈrȯŋ-fəl 

as in unlawful

contrary to or forbidden by law

charged with wrongful possession of narcotics

Synonyms & Similar Words

• unlawful
• illegal
• criminal
• illicit
• felonious
• unauthorized
• illegitimate
• forbidden
• lawless
• immoral
• prohibited
• wrong
• shameful
• unethical
• sinful
• evil
• criminalized
• wicked
• reprehensible
• bad
• blameworthy
• barred
• unlicensed
• corrupt
• unsanctioned
• unscrupulous
• proscribed
• disallowed
• discouraged
• censurable
• outlawed
• unprincipled
• blamable
• contraband
• under-the-table
• villainous
• interdicted
• banned
• adulterine
• bootleg
• under-the-counter

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• legal
• lawful
• legitimate
• right
• ethical
• righteous
• good
• virtuous
• permitted
• principled
• just
• authorized
• licensed
• proper
• correct
• endorsed
• approved
• promoted
• supported
• allowed
• decent
• sanctioned
• suggested
• abetted
• encouraged
• decorous
• seemly

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of wrongful

On Friday, the Fourth Circuit rejected the disability discrimination, failure-to-accommodate and wrongful discharge claims. — Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 25 Aug. 2026

Denver has 160 lawyers The two lawsuits were filed by Jessica Calderon, a former Denver city employee, and Everett Martinez, a current Denver city employee, who separately allege wrongful treatment and retaliation by the city. — Brian Maass, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026

The mother of a 25-year-old man who was fatally shot by Lenexa police officers in June 2025, has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the city and the police officers accused of shooting the man. — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 21 Aug. 2026

This, Berlinger believes, is the kind of thinking that ends in wrongful convictions. — Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 16 Aug. 2026