wrongful

W4R1O1N1G2F4U1L1
/ˈɹɒŋfəl/

adjective

wrong or unjust

Similar
iniquitousunfairillicitnonlawfulcrimefulcriminalillegalillegitimate
Opposite
justrightrightful
OriginMiddle English wrongful →
Less commonScrabble 15
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok
Word of the Day · Oct 7, 2025

Meanings

adjectivewrongful (comparative more wrongful, superlative most wrongful)

comparative more wrongful · superlative most wrongful

  1. wrong or unjust

    And now, with the tyranny of wrongful power, "The loathsome mark has fallen, the mall remains Sceptreless, free, uncircumscribed, but man Equal, unclassed, tribeless, and nationless, Exempt from awe, worship, degree, the king Over himself; just, gentle, wise."

    1913, Sydney Waterlow, Shelley

    Synonyms: iniquitous, unfair · Antonyms: just, right

  2. unlawful or illegal

    Synonyms: illicit, nonlawful, crimeful, criminal, illegal, illegitimate, illicit, lawbreaking · Antonyms: rightful

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectivewrong or unjust

Similar
iniquitousunfair
Opposite
justright

adjectiveunlawful or illegal

Similar
illicitnonlawfulcrimefulcriminalillegalillegitimateillicitlawbreakingnonlawfuloutlawedunlawful
Opposite
rightful

More synonyms by meaning

adjectivehaving no legally established claim

Similar
unlawfulillegitimate

adjectiveunlawfully violating the rights of others

Similar
unlawful

adjectivenot just or fair

Similar
unjust
Also see
crimefulcriminalillegalillegitimateillicitlawbreakingnonlawfuloutlawedtortiousunjustunlawful

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Middle Englishwrongful
  2. Englishwrongful

From Middle English wrongful, equivalent to wrong + -ful.

More words from Middle English

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian грешен, неверен
  • грешен (grešen)wrong or unjust
  • неверен (neveren)wrong or unjust
  • неправомерен (nepravomeren)unlawful
Finnish epäoikeudenmukainen, oikeudeton
  • epäoikeudenmukainenwrong or unjust
  • oikeudetonwrong or unjust
  • oikeudetonunlawful
Spanish injusto, injustificado
  • injustowrong or unjust
  • injustificadowrong or unjust
  • indebidowrong or unjust
  • torticerowrong or unjust
  • culposounlawful
  • ilegalunlawful
Cite this entry
APA

wrongful. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/wrongful

MLA

“wrongful.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/wrongful. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “wrongful,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/wrongful.

Source: wrongful on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.