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

The widow of one of the five men killed over Labor Day weekend when an Amazon cargo plane overshot the runway at Miami International Airport filed a wrongful-death lawsuit on Wednesday. — Brady Dennis, Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2026

Additionally, in 2017 the state agreed to pay $248,000 to settle a wrongful termination suit against Cruz by a former prosecutor. — N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026

In an explosive legal battle, Letty Kavanagh, former managing director of Bake Off producer Love Productions, is suing for wrongful dismissal and unpaid severance in two separate courts. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2026

The trauma that the state imposed on Duncan as a result of his wrongful conviction continues today. — Richard A. Webster, ProPublica, 31 Aug. 2026