wrongdoing

noun

wrong·​do·​ing ˈrȯŋ-ˌdü-iŋ 

1

: evil or improper behavior or action

cleared of any wrongdoing

2

: an instance of doing wrong

Synonyms

• breach
• crime
• debt
• error
• lawbreaking
• malefaction
• misdeed
• misdoing
• offense
• offence
• sin
• transgression
• trespass
• violation

Examples of wrongdoing in a Sentence

The corporation's wrongdoings must be exposed.

a local newspaper exposed the contractor's elaborate attempts to cover up his wrongdoings

Recent Examples on the Web

Prince Andrew has denied allegations of wrongdoing, was not charged criminally, and reached an out-of-court settlement with Giuffre stemming from a civil lawsuit. —Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 4 Apr. 2025

Gallegos has not been accused by prosecutors of wrongdoing. —Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2025

The company, which denied wrongdoing in the class-action case, did not respond to a request for an interview for this article. —Alec MacGillis, ProPublica, 3 Apr. 2025

Trump has declared these law firms guilty of wrongdoing and has punished them without the due process of law guaranteed by the Constitution's Fifth Amendment. —Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Legal Definition

wrongdoing

noun

wrong·​do·​ing ˈrȯŋ-ˌdü-iŋ 

: injurious, criminal, or improper behavior

denied any wrongdoing