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

Relevance

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
Users in the comments widely agreed that the group of friends was overreacting, and the woman wasn't wrong. Rachel Raposas, People.com, 30 May 2025 While much of the plot remains under lock and key, THR can reveal that one point revolves around the son of Stiller and Polo’s characters, who gets engaged to a ball-busting woman who seems all wrong for him. Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 30 May 2025
Noun
There has been a vociferous debate ever since about the rights and wrongs of the reaction. James Pearce, New York Times, 13 May 2025 His carelessness of practical things caused him to be cheated and defrauded frequently, to the indignation of his wife especially; but the gentleness of his forgiveness of a wrong was trying sometimes. John Jeremiah Sullivan, Harpers Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
Adverb
Low income workers would get a a 5% federal match which helps right wrong of the top heavy current tax expenditures. Teresa Ghilarducci, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025 Republican committee members on Tuesday pushed claims, also without evidence, about the investigations into JFK's death, repeatedly getting facts surrounding the probes wrong and even yielding their time to allow witnesses to freely talk about theories rather than asking questions. Lalee Ibssa, ABC News, 1 Apr. 2025
Verb
The story follows rags-to-riches CEO Noreen Alfonso (Barbie Forteza) who is out to take revenge on the people who have wronged her. Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 20 Apr. 2025 Still, sources told TMZ that Kenya felt wronged by Bravo, with the two mainly disagreeing over the gun claim and Kenya’s safety. Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 6 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wrong
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wrong
Adjective
  • The first project yields too many false positives, introducing an unacceptable amount of friction into the consumer experience.
    Shazia Manus, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
  • But violence, vandalism or destruction of property are completely unacceptable.
    Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 May 2025
Adjective
  • If a project fails because the decision to go ahead with the project turns out to be incorrect (which should happen frequently), that failure should not bear on the manager responsible for the project.
    Tim Koller, Time, 20 May 2025
  • The court had to issue a letter stating the interpretation was incorrect.
    Bob Carlson, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
Adjective
  • But lingering beneath the surface of his success, Favre had a pattern of inappropriate behavior off the field, including a high-profile tabloid scandal that erupted in 2010, and most recently, the largest case of public fraud in Mississippi’s history.
    Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
  • As the rebel Jen (Michelle Williams) comes to town, and Pacey (Joshua Jackson) carries on an inappropriate relationship with his teacher, that turns out to be the case. 23.
    Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 20 May 2025
Adjective
  • Those have included other deportations to third countries and the erroneous deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran who had lived as a legal U.S. resident in Maryland for 14 years while working and raising a family.
    Julie Carr Smyth, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2025
  • Those have included other deportations to third countries and the erroneous deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an El Salvadoran who had lived in Maryland for roughly 14 years working and raising a family.
    Julie Carr Smyth, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2025
Adjective
  • Researchers also noted the chatbot engaging in other potentially disturbing—though not necessarily immoral—behavior.
    Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 24 May 2025
  • Suggesting that being out of work is immoral, as opposed to the conditions that contribute to people’s ability to work and live, might be a more appropriate source of anxiety.
    Lauren Coulman, Forbes.com, 15 May 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
  • The Last Emperor won for Best Picture, and while that is absolutely a great movie, the fact that Moonstruck lost is one of life's great injustices.
    Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 20 May 2025
  • Eric Arthur Blair, who took the pen name George Orwell, was impelled to write by a keen awareness of injustice and a need to expose lies.
    Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2025
Adverb
  • Hours later, the bodies of seven children - most of them badly burned - arrived at the hospital, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.
    Tim Lister, CNN Money, 24 May 2025
  • For those who have loved badly and understood it too late, this song hits straight to the soul.
    Luisa Calle, Billboard, 23 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wrong.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wrong. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on wrong

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!