wrong

Use the adjective wrong to talk about something that is factually incorrect. You thought your paper was due a week from Friday, but you were wrong. It's due tomorrow. Better start typing!

You can use the word wrong to describe something that deviates from your moral principles. You might believe that the death penalty is just wrong, but not everyone agrees with you. The adjective wrong can also describe something that is inappropriate for a certain purpose. It's frustrating to get all the way home from the store before you realize you grabbed the wrong kind of milk — buttermilk instead of two percent.

Primary Meanings of wrong

1.
 adjadv
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
in an inaccurate manner
2.
 adjvn
not appropriate for a purpose or occasion
treat unjustly; do wrong to
that which is contrary to the principles of justice or law
3.
 adj
not in accord with established usage or procedure
Full Definitions of wrong
1

adj not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth

“the report in the paper is wrong”
“your information is wrong”
“the clock showed the wrong time”
“found themselves on the wrong road”
“based on the wrong assumptions”
Synonyms:
incorrect
inaccurate
not exact
erroneous
containing or characterized by error
fallacious
based on an incorrect or misleading notion or information
false, mistaken
arising from error
improper
not suitable or right or appropriate
false
not in accordance with the fact or reality or actuality
Antonyms:
correct, right
free from error; especially conforming to fact or truth
accurate
conforming exactly or almost exactly to fact or to a standard or performing with total accuracy
accurate, exact, precise
(of ideas, images, representations, expressions) characterized by perfect conformity to fact or truth ; strictly correct
letter-perfect, word-perfect
correct to the last detail; especially being in or following the exact words
straight
following a correct or logical method
proper
marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness
true
consistent with fact or reality; not false
show more antonyms...

adj characterized by errors; not agreeing with a model or not following established rules

“the wrong side of the road”
Synonyms:
faulty, incorrect
inaccurate
not exact

adv in an inaccurate manner

“she guessed wrong”
Synonyms:
incorrectly, wrongly
Antonyms:
aright, correctly, right
in an accurate manner
2

adj not appropriate for a purpose or occasion

“said all the wrong things”
Synonyms:
improper
inappropriate
not suitable for a particular occasion etc

adj contrary to conscience or morality or law

“it is wrong for the rich to take advantage of the poor”
“cheating is wrong”
“it is wrong to lie”
Synonyms:
unethical
not conforming to approved standards of social or professional behavior
evil
morally bad or wrong
unjust
violating principles of justice
immoral
deliberately violating accepted principles of right and wrong
improper
not suitable or right or appropriate
condemnable, criminal, deplorable, reprehensible, vicious
bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure
base, immoral
not adhering to ethical or moral principles
misguided, mistaken
wrong in e.g. opinion or judgment
wicked
morally bad in principle or practice
Antonyms:
right
in conformance with justice or law or morality
ethical
conforming to accepted standards of social or professional behavior
good
morally admirable
just
used especially of what is legally or ethically right or proper or fitting
proper
marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness
ethical, honorable, honourable
adhering to ethical and moral principles
show more antonyms...

adj based on or acting or judging in error

“it is wrong to think that way”
Synonyms:
wrongheaded
obstinately perverse in judgment or opinion
Antonyms:
correct, right
correct in opinion or judgment
right-minded
disposed toward or having views based on what is right
show more antonyms...

adj badly timed

“it was the wrong moment for a joke”
Synonyms:
ill-timed, unseasonable, untimely
inopportune
not opportune

v treat unjustly; do wrong to

Antonyms:
compensate, correct, redress, right
make reparations or amends for
Types:
show 5 types...
hide 5 types...
aggrieve
infringe on the rights of
sandbag
treat harshly or unfairly
victimise, victimize
make a victim of
cheat, chisel, rip off
deprive somebody of something by deceit
cozen, deceive, delude, lead on
be false to; be dishonest with
Type of:
do by, handle, treat
interact in a certain way

n that which is contrary to the principles of justice or law

“he feels that you are in the wrong”
Synonyms:
wrongfulness
Antonyms:
right, rightfulness
anything in accord with principles of justice
Type of:
injustice, unjustness
the practice of being unjust or unfair

n any harm or injury resulting from a violation of a legal right

Synonyms:
damage, legal injury
Type of:
injury
wrongdoing that violates another's rights and is unjustly inflicted
3

adj not in accord with established usage or procedure

“the wrong medicine”
“the wrong way to shuck clams”
Synonyms:
incorrect
improper
not suitable or right or appropriate

adj not functioning properly

“something is wrong with the engine”
Synonyms:
amiss, awry, haywire
malfunctioning, nonfunctional
not performing or able to perform its regular function

adj used of the side of cloth or clothing intended to face inward

“socks worn wrong side out”
Synonyms:
inside
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space

Sign up, it's free!

Whether you're a student, an educator, or a lifelong learner, Vocabulary.com can put you on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.