wrongful

adjective

ˈrȯŋ-fəl How to pronounce wrongful (audio)
Definition of wrongfulnext
as in unlawful
contrary to or forbidden by law charged with wrongful possession of narcotics

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 wrongful Batie-Smoose is waging a wrongful termination lawsuit against SJSU. — Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026 Thirty years later, the state Supreme Court reversed the convictions and three years after that, the state paid them $25 million to settle their wrongful conviction suit. — Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2026 In August 2025, Scott’s legal team, along with the LAIP, filed a habeas corpus petition alleging a wrongful conviction based on flawed forensic evidence. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 18 July 2026 After his conviction was vacated, Broadwater sued the state of New York for wrongful imprisonment. — Joaquin Sapien, ProPublica, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for wrongful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wrongful
  1. unlawful
  2. criminal
  3. illicit
  4. felonious
Adjective
  • Since Congress never approved that relocation, the move is unlawful, the lawsuit alleges.
    — Chiara Eisner, NPR, 3 Aug. 2026
  • When the Miami commission approved the unlawful ordinance last summer, the change went into effect immediately.
    — Tess Riski July 31, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
Definition of unlawful
Adjective
  • If found not guilty due to a lack of criminal responsibility, she would be committed to a state mental health facility.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Police identified the suspect as 21-year-old Saleem Martin, who has been charged with kidnapping, theft by taking, simple battery, entering an automobile, cruelty to children and criminal attempt to commit a felony.
    — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of criminal
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, 18-to-25-year-olds saw declines in the use of nicotine products, tobacco, cigarette, alcohol and binge drinking in the past month as well as the use of illicit drugs and prescription stimulants or opioids within the past year.
    — Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • But the illicit art is only part of the operatic tale of the literal rise and metaphorical fall of what have become informally known as the graffiti towers.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026
Definition of illicit
Adjective
  • Zachary Robert Stacer, 22, was arrested on July 30 and charged with two counts of assault with intent to do great bodily harm, three counts of felonious assault and five counts of resisting and obstructing a police officer.
    — Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • At his sentencing, Cuyahoga County Assistant Prosecutor Connor Davin recounted Loftis’ long history of criminal convictions, which included charges of assault on a peace officer, drug trafficking, felonious assault and armed robbery.
    — Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 9 July 2026
Definition of felonious

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wronged
wrongful
wrongfulness
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Cite this Entry

“Wrongful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wrongful. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on wrongful

Nglish: Translation of wrongful for Spanish Speakers

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