wrong

Not correct or true.

• Your answer is wrong.
• I wrote the wrong phone number.
• Could we be wrong about what happened?

How to use it: wrong about something (I was wrong about the date.)

Similar words: incorrect, mistaken, false

Opposites: right, correct

Common phrases: wrong answer, wrong number, be wrong

Bad because it is unfair, dishonest, or hurts people.

• Stealing is wrong.
• It was wrong to blame the child.
• Do you think it is wrong to keep the money?

How to use it: wrong to do something (It is wrong to cheat.); wrong of someone to do something (It was wrong of him to lie to you.)

Similar words: immoral, bad, unethical

Opposites: right

Common phrases: wrong to steal, morally wrong, wrong of someone, wrong to lie

Not suitable for a particular person, purpose, or situation.

• These shoes are the wrong size.
• We chose the wrong time to visit.
• That job was wrong for me.

How to use it: wrong for someone/something (These shoes are wrong for hiking.)

Similar words: unsuitable, inappropriate

Opposites: right, suitable

Common phrases: wrong choice, wrong size, wrong for someone

In a way that is not correct.

• You spelled my name wrong.
• I think I heard you wrong.
• Have we been doing this wrong all along?

Similar words: incorrectly, wrongly

Opposites: correctly, right

Common phrases: spell something wrong, get something wrong, do something wrong

An unfair or harmful act against someone.

• We must put this wrong right.
• She never forgot the wrongs done to her.
• He tried to make up for past wrongs.

How to use it: a wrong against someone (The court recognized the wrongs against the workers.)

Similar words: injustice, misdeed

Common phrases: right a wrong, past wrong, wrong against someone

To treat someone unfairly or cause them harm.

• I believe he wronged me.
• She felt wronged by her closest friend.
• They apologized to the people they had wronged.

How to use it: wrong someone (The company wronged its workers by refusing to pay them.)

Similar words: mistreat, harm

Common phrases: wrong someone, wrong a friend, wrong a partner