wrong

1 of 4

noun

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 How to pronounce wrong (audio) ; wrongest ˈrȯŋ-əst How to pronounce wrong (audio)
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 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 How to pronounce wrong (audio)

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
wronger noun
Phrases
wrong side of the tracks
: a run-down or unfashionable neighborhood
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
The state awarded the first retail licenses to people previously arrested for cannabis, an equity program meant to chip away at the lasting wrongs from the War on Drugs. Wesley Parnell, Rolling Stone, 22 Mar. 2024 While the criminal case plays out, the Army is also contending with civil complaints like these brought by accusers who filed under the Federal Torts Claims Act, which allows individuals to bring claims against federal agencies for wrongs allegedly committed by personnel of that agency. Clare Hymes, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2024 As would become the pattern, the collective determination to redress the wrongs of slavery evaporated under opposition. Nikole Hannah-Jones, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024 But activists say Webb and her force have taken little action to right historic wrongs, and that their participation in the march is performative. Angus Watson, CNN, 1 Mar. 2024 Laws have been passed to fix wrongs that sit in law books long after the original wrongs faded. Tj Hutchinson, The Denver Post, 27 Feb. 2024 Making the psychological contract explicit, making the unspoken agreement about expectations loud and clear, could be a step to right previous wrongs and restore balance between parties. Melissa A. Wheeler, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 By the movie’s end, viewers aren’t allowed to comfortably relegate the dictator’s power-grabbing wrongs to history. Valerie Trapp, The Atlantic, 9 Mar. 2024 Antioch was chosen as the gathering site this year because of its own history of discrimination against Asian-Americans, the burning of its Chinatown in the late 1800s and the city’s 2021 historic formal apology for past wrongs, according to organizers. Judith Prieve, The Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2024
Adjective
Not that there’s anything wrong with degrees, of course. Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 24 Mar. 2024 Dean has a few tricks up his sleeve: Turn up to a pitching presentation with the wrong investor’s name on the deck. Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune Europe, 24 Mar. 2024 Also on offer are recommendations on what type of leaders should be running Boeing, and its recent miscues in emphasizing the wrong roles and maybe miscasting top managers. Shawn Tully, Fortune, 23 Mar. 2024 There’s a right way to do this and a wrong way (hence why some may associate boldness with being brass and abrasive). Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 23 Mar. 2024 Apple has since responded to the lawsuit saying the suit is wrong in the facts and the law. Oscar Gonzalez / Gizmodo, Quartz, 22 Mar. 2024 Rather than, say, front pages devoted to what’s wrong with Princess Charlotte’s skirt or Stephen Colbert riffing on William’s alleged affair with the Marchioness of Chumpetyhumph. Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 22 Mar. 2024 But soon after the primary, Chisholm’s husband started to worry that something was wrong. Ellen Wexler, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Mar. 2024 Yet having them around creates a very busy movie that lacks the emotional hook of its predecessor, while spending too much time on the wrong characters in a way that yields a rather lifeless, chilly affair. Brian Lowry, CNN, 21 Mar. 2024
Adverb
Recent data on the economy has shown that growth accelerated last year even as inflation returned closer to the Federal Reserve’s 2% target, proving wrong a multitude of Wall Street and academic economists who said a recession would be the consequence of efforts to lower inflation. Josh Boak, Fortune, 1 Feb. 2024 This latest research is a good step in explaining what might be going wrong in the immune systems of people with lingering symptoms. Lisa Jarvis, Twin Cities, 28 Jan. 2024 New Year’s Resolutions felt like a ridiculous lift because everything was going wrong at the same time. TIME, 27 Dec. 2023 Picking up in the premiere, written by Eric Martin and directed by Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, things are going wrong at the TVA due to Sylvie’s actions. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Oct. 2023 In a quip characteristic of the mercurial judge, Carter warned reporters after the hearing to be wary of describing the ruling with a finality that could turn out wrong. Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2023 That is a – and that's part of what is going wrong now. Nbc Universal, NBC News, 9 July 2023 Perhaps the most important thing to know is that there isn't one right way to load a dishwasher, but there are a great many ways to go wrong in between. Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 21 Aug. 2023 For ground crews and commanders working the small brush fire in the Riverside County community of Cabazon, word that something had gone horribly wrong crackled over their radios at 6:48 p.m. — roughly an hour before sunset. Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2023
Verb
Among the similarities Stephenson highlighted was an early moment in which the protagonist is summoned to his boss’ office and dressed down for wronging a politician. Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Mar. 2024 Feeling wronged and confused by the new restrictions, Hall slumped back into her chair. Paresh Dave, WIRED, 7 Mar. 2024 This woman, who has been wronged her entire life, is one of the only people in this town to actually be brave enough to bear the responsibility of her actions. Maëlle Beauget-Uhl, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 The law exists to protect those who have been wronged, no matter how powerful or famous the defendant is. Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2024 When insulted, your first impulse is to: Turn the other cheek (3) Don’t make eye contact and walk away (5) Bide your time for six years and then betray the person who wronged you (7) 16. Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 13 Feb. 2024 Conversations had just begun about how wronged Jackson had been in the fallout, where the blame entirely fell on her as she was forced to publicly apologize and bear the brunt of the blame, shame and embarrassment. Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 8 Feb. 2024 Keanu Reeves is back as the titular assassin to exact even more revenge on those who have wronged him through the shadowy High Table. Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 26 Jan. 2024 Actor Camila Morrone, who played woman wronged Camila Alvarez, was a major part of the inspiration. Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 16 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wrong.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of wrong was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near wrong

Cite this Entry

“Wrong.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wrong. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

wrong

1 of 3 noun
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

More from Merriam-Webster on wrong

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