wrong

1 of 4

noun

ˈrȯŋ 

1

a

: an injurious, unfair, or unjust act : action or conduct inflicting harm without due provocation or just cause

b

: a violation or invasion of the legal rights of another

especially : tort

2

: something wrong, immoral, or unethical

especially : principles, practices, or conduct contrary to justice, goodness, equity, or law

3

: the state, position, or fact of being or doing wrong: such as

a

: the state of being mistaken or incorrect

b

: the state of being guilty

wrong

2 of 4

adjective

wronger ˈrȯŋ-ər  ; wrongest ˈrȯŋ-əst 

1

: not according to the moral standard : sinful, immoral

thought that war was wrong

2

: not right or proper according to a code, standard, or convention : improper

it was wrong not to thank your host

3

: not according to truth or facts : incorrect

gave a wrong date

4

: not satisfactory (as in condition, results, health, or temper)

5

: not in accordance with one's needs, intent, or expectations

took the wrong bus

6

: of, relating to, or constituting the side of something that is usually held to be opposite to the principal one, that is the one naturally or by design turned down, inward, or away, or that is the least finished or polished

wrongly

ˈrȯŋ-lē 

adverb

wrongness noun

wrong

3 of 4

adverb

1

: without accuracy : incorrectly

guessed wrong

2

: without regard for what is proper or just

was reprimanded for what he had done wrong

3

: in a wrong direction

turned wrong at the junction

4

a

: in an unsuccessful or unfortunate way

something went wrong

b

: out of working order or condition

5

: in a false light

don't get me wrong

wrong

4 of 4

verb

wronged; wronging ˈrȯŋ-iŋ 

transitive verb

1

a

: to do wrong to : injure, harm

b

: to treat disrespectfully or dishonorably : violate

2

: defraud

—usually used with of

wronged them of their land

3

: discredit, malign

wronger

ˈrȯŋ-ər 

noun

Phrases

wrong side of the tracks

: a run-down or unfashionable neighborhood

Synonyms

Noun

• bad
• evil
• evildoing
• ill
• immorality
• iniquity
• sin
• villainy

Adjective

• bad
• bastard
• bush
• bush-league
• crummy
• crumby
• deficient
• dissatisfactory
• ill
• inferior
• lame
• lousy
• off
• paltry
• poor
• punk
• sour
• suboptimal
• subpar
• substandard
• unacceptable
• unsatisfactory
• wack [slang]
• wanting
• wretched

Adverb

• afield
• amiss
• astray
• awry

Choose the Right Synonym for wrong

Noun

injustice, injury, wrong, grievance mean an act that inflicts undeserved hurt.

injustice applies to any act that involves unfairness to another or violation of one's rights.

the injustices suffered by the lower classes

injury applies in law specifically to an injustice for which one may sue to recover compensation.

libel constitutes a legal injury

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

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

Verb

wrong, oppress, persecute, aggrieve mean to injure unjustly or outrageously.

wrong implies inflicting injury either unmerited or out of proportion to what one deserves.

a penal system that had wronged him

oppress suggests inhumane imposing of burdens one cannot endure or exacting more than one can perform.

a people oppressed by a warmongering tyrant

persecute implies a relentless and unremitting subjection to annoyance or suffering.

a child persecuted by constant criticism

aggrieve implies suffering caused by an infringement or denial of rights.

a legal aid society representing aggrieved minority groups

Examples of wrong in a Sentence

Noun

any reasonable person should be expected to know the difference between right and wrong

trying to right all the wrongs in the world

Adjective

I don't want you to get the wrong impression of him.

Don't take this the wrong way, but I think you should start exercising.

Are my actions sending the wrong message?

These pages are in the wrong order.

I got four answers wrong on the test.

You're wrong; the answer is six.

You like baseball, or am I wrong?

Am I wrong in thinking that she should never have gone?

I think her birthday is May 11th, but I could be wrong.

He thinks I can't win, but I'm going to prove him wrong.

Adverb

I entered the numbers wrong.

Her name was spelled wrong on the form.

I can't get this to work; could you show me what I did wrong?

Verb

We should forgive those who have wronged us.

As the wronged party, you have the right to sue for damages.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This would be doing something to right the wrongs that laws such as the 1994 enacted. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024

The conflict between right and wrong is far less compelling, as Hegel understood, than the collision of sides with competing claims to legitimacy. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024

Adjective

Begiristain is being shown up not for signing bad players but for letting the wrong ones leave. —Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024

There’s nothing wrong with that New Year’s Eve drone show, or occasional other artistic and creative displays. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 19 Dec. 2024

Adverb

No beat-matching and no way to go wrong—just stretch out and let Mari Maurice’s bowing wrap you up in ambient-orchestral spiderweb. —Pitchfork, 2 Dec. 2024

As Alana and Derrick spend time together, a spark begins to grow, but everything starts to go wrong when Alana’s grandfather’s (Ed Begley Jr.) good luck charm—a vintage Chiefs hat—goes missing. —Kristi Dosh, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2024

Verb

When a teammate feels wronged by a colleague, the focus tends to be on establishing who’s right and who’s wrong. —Anna Shields, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024

Picking Gaetz for the nation’s top law enforcement job is the surest sign that Trump wants payback against those he feels wronged by, observers say. —David Jackson, USA TODAY, 15 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English wrang, from *wrang, adjective, wrong

Adjective

Middle English, from Old English *wrang, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse rangr awry, wrong, Danish vrang wrong side; akin to Old English wringan to wring

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing wrong

• bark up the wrong tree
• can't go wrong with
• correct me if I'm wrong
• do no wrong
• Don't get me wrong
• do (someone) wrong
• do wrong
• fall into the wrong hands
• get on the wrong side of
• get out of bed on the wrong side
• get (someone or something) wrong
• get (someone) wrong
• get/start off on the wrong foot
• get the wrong idea
• get up on the wrong side of the bed
• got it all wrong
• go wrong
• in the wrong
• on the right/wrong side of (someone)
• on the right/wrong track
• on the wrong side of (an age)
• on the wrong side of the law
• put a foot wrong
• rub (someone) up the wrong way
• rub the wrong way
• steer (someone) wrong
• take a wrong turn
• take something the wrong way
• tell right from wrong
• the wrong end of the stick
• the wrong horse
• wrong-foot
• wrong number
• wrong side of the tracks
• wrong side out
• wrong side up

Kids Definition

wrong

1 of 3 noun

ˈrȯŋ 

1

: a harmful, unfair, or unjust act

2

: something that is wrong : wrong principles, practices, or conduct

know right from wrong

3

: the state, position, or fact of being or doing wrong

in the wrong

wrong

2 of 3 adjective

1

: not according to the moral standard : sinful, immoral

2

: not agreeing with proper behavior

it was wrong not to thank the hostess

3

: not suitable

wore the wrong clothes for a wedding

4

: not according to truth or facts : incorrect

a wrong answer on the test

5

: not satisfactory

there's something wrong about the story's ending

6

: not in agreement with one's needs, intentions, or expectations

took the wrong bus

7

: made so as to be placed down or under and not to be seen

the wrong side of a fabric

wrong adverb

wrongly adverb

wrongness noun

wrong

3 of 3 verb

wronged; wronging

ˈrȯŋ-iŋ

1

: to do wrong to : injure, harm

2

: to make unjust remarks about

Legal Definition

wrong

1 of 2 noun

1

: a violation of the rights of another

especially : tort

2

: something (as conduct, practices, or qualities) contrary to justice, goodness, equity, or law

the difference between right and wrong

wrong

2 of 2 transitive verb

: to do a wrong to : treat with injustice