wrong 1 of 4

adjective

Definition of wrongnext
1
as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard there is something wrong with this cake—it has a funny taste

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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

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3
as in inappropriate
not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation has a knack for saying just the wrong thing

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4
as in erroneous
not being in agreement with what is true her answer that Thomas Jefferson was the second president of the United States is wrong—it was John Adams, of course

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5
as in immoral
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable was caught doing something wrong

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wrong

2 of 4

noun

ˈrȯŋ How to pronounce wrong (audio)
1
as in bad
that which is morally unacceptable any reasonable person should be expected to know the difference between right and wrong

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2
as in injustice
unfair or inadequate treatment of someone or something or an instance of this trying to right all the wrongs in the world

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wrong

3 of 4

adverb

as in badly
off the desired or intended path or course all of our carefully laid plans have gone wrong

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wrong

4 of 4

verb

as in to harm

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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
For the past year, markets have vaporized roughly $2 trillion in software value by asking the wrong question about AI. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Steven Tian and Stephen Henriques, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026 For example, if a person’s name was linked to the wrong address or someone's citizenship status had not been updated in a particular database. — ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026
Noun
And having the club fined is also not going to cause individual players to curtail their emotions or not defend themselves against actual or perceived wrongs. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Aug. 2026 The tired, the sick, the hungry, the famous and tons of ex-boyfriends, all regretting their wrongs. — Courtney Love, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2026
Adverb
Dispatchers told paramedics over the radio, however, that the man landed wrong and possibly broke his leg. — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 13 July 2026 There are just too many things that can go wrong that cross national borders. — Dana Taylor, USA Today, 23 June 2026
Verb
This wasn’t an opportunity to defame someone or make this about how I’d been wronged. — Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2026 Trump accidentally made the case that when the government’s policies cause harm, reparations should be paid by the government to make those who were wronged whole again, or that they should be compensated in some way. — Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 21 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for wrong
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wrong
  1. unacceptable
  2. incorrect
  3. inappropriate
  4. erroneous
  5. immoral
  6. bad
  7. injustice
  8. badly
Adjective
  • Carney has called that demand unacceptable and a question of Canadian sovereignty.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Custard said, for the public, all this adds up to unacceptable risk.
    — Yuki Noguchi, NPR, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of unacceptable
Adjective
  • In between some of the manager’s more clip-worthy quotes, there were more of his usual — and not incorrect — platitudes.
    — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Mosseri said the plaintiff lawyers are incorrect in suggesting that Meta also reduced the number of researchers studying youth mental health harms after Haugen’s leaks.
    — Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of incorrect
Adjective
  • During the first week of school, a Diamond Hill-Jarvis High School teacher was placed on leave over allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a student.
    — Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The content was inappropriate and does not reflect our values.
    — Gregg Evans, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of inappropriate
Adjective
  • Towers told ProPublica that the audit had reached erroneous conclusions, that the auditors did not give him the opportunity to fully defend his work and that the journal’s willingness to stand by the study is proof that his research is sound.
    — Amy Yurkanin, ProPublica, 24 Aug. 2026
  • For example, antiquarian scholars introduced the erroneous notion that druids built stone circles—most notably Stonehenge—for their ceremonies, an idea that became embedded in the popular imagination during the 18th century.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of erroneous
Adjective
  • Heilbrun was speaking to his evaluation of Clancy’s case and her understanding of what is immoral.
    — NBC News, NBC news, 25 Aug. 2026
  • According to experts, this device could rot my brain, influence me to commit immoral acts, and even ruin my eyesight.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of immoral
Noun
  • In addition to public goods, AI will also create public bads.
    — James Broughel, Forbes.com, 8 June 2026
  • Naturally, the meeting is a flop because no one was prepared, and their spontaneous ideas are frankly fireable-offense bad (a baguette bag shaped like a baguette for Paris?
    — Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2025
Definition of bad
Noun
  • Miley Cyrus Miley Cyrus founded the Happy Hippie Foundation to fight injustices facing homeless and LGBTQ youth as well as other vulnerable populations.
    — Alexandra Schonfeld, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
  • To Kill a Mockingbird While Scout Finch and her father, Atticus, have become beloved characters of American literature, this novel’s true power lies in its heartbreaking account of race and injustice in the American South.
    — Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of injustice
Adverb
  • But the Vuelta a España’s hiring of a female influencer, whose social media content centers on flirting with male strangers, has backfired badly.
    — Chris Marshall-Bell, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The Iran-contra scandal in the mid-1980s badly tarnished Ronald Reagan’s foreign policy record.
    — Nate Swanson, Foreign Affairs, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of badly

Phrases Containing wrong

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written up
wrong
wrongdoer
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Cite this Entry

“Wrong.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wrong. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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