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wrong

Syllabification: (wrong)
Pronunciation: /rôNG/

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Definition of wrong

adjective

  • 1not correct or true:that is the wrong answer
  • [predic.] mistaken:I was wrong about him being on the yacht that evening
  • unsuitable or undesirable:they asked all the wrong questions
  • [predic.] in a bad or abnormal condition; amiss:something was wrong with the pump
  • 2unjust, dishonest, or immoral:they were wrong to take the law into their own hands it was wrong of me to write you such an angry note

adverb

  • in an unsuitable or undesirable manner or direction:what am I doing wrong?
  • with an incorrect result:she guessed wrong

noun

  • an unjust, dishonest, or immoral action:I have done you a great wrong
  • Law a breach, by commission or omission, of one’s legal duty.
  • Law an invasion of right to the damage or prejudice of another.

verb

[with object]
  • act unjustly or dishonestly toward (someone):please forgive me these things and the people I have wronged
  • mistakenly attribute bad motives to; misrepresent:perhaps I wrong him

Phrases

do wrong

commit an unjust, dishonest, or immoral act:they admit she has done wrong, but believe the punishment is too harsh

do someone wrong

treat someone unjustly:he sought revenge against those who had done him wrong

get someone wrong

misunderstand someone, especially by falsely imputing malice:now, don’t get me wrong, my fellow players are a great bunch of people

go down the wrong way

(of food) enter the windpipe instead of the gullet.

go wrong

make a mistake.
(of a device) malfunction; develop a fault.
develop in an undesirable way:the government has ordered an inquiry to ascertain what went wrong

in the wrong

responsible for a quarrel, mistake, or offense.

two wrongs don't make a right

proverb the fact that someone has done something unjust or dishonest is no justification for acting in a similar way.

Derivatives

wronger

noun

wrongly

adverb

wrongness

noun

Origin:

late Old English wrang, from Old Norse rangr 'awry, unjust'; related to wring

wrong in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of wrong in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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