Wrongdoing
noun
The act of doing something bad or illegal.
The company was investigated for possible wrongdoing.
Often appears as...
- admit wrongdoing
- deny wrongdoing
noun
Behavior that is illegal or not moral.
He refused to admit any wrongdoing in the case.
Often appears as...
- criminal wrongdoing
- ethical wrongdoing
Usage tips
Formal
noun
Action that is dishonest, unethical or inappropriate.
The businessman was accused of financial wrongdoing.
Often appears as...
- financial wrongdoing
- corporate wrongdoing
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
noun
The act of doing something bad or illegal.
The company was investigated for possible wrongdoing.
Often appears as...
- admit wrongdoing
- deny wrongdoing
noun
Behavior that is illegal or not moral.
He refused to admit any wrongdoing in the case.
Often appears as...
- criminal wrongdoing
- ethical wrongdoing
Usage tips
Formal
noun
Action that is dishonest, unethical or inappropriate.
The businessman was accused of financial wrongdoing.
Often appears as...
- financial wrongdoing
- corporate wrongdoing
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Implication
Wrongdoing always suggests a negative action, reflecting badly on someone's character or integrity.
His career was ruined by allegations of wrongdoing.
Pro Tip 2/3Broad Application
Can be used for a wide range of bad actions, from minor infractions to major crimes.
He was fired for a minor act of wrongdoing at work.
Pro Tip 3/3Severity Variation
The severity of wrongdoing can vary greatly, sometimes requiring context to understand its gravity.
She felt guilty for her wrongdoing, although it was just a small lie.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Implication
Wrongdoing always suggests a negative action, reflecting badly on someone's character or integrity.
His career was ruined by allegations of wrongdoing.
Pro Tip 2/3Broad Application
Can be used for a wide range of bad actions, from minor infractions to major crimes.
He was fired for a minor act of wrongdoing at work.
Pro Tip 3/3Severity Variation
The severity of wrongdoing can vary greatly, sometimes requiring context to understand its gravity.
She felt guilty for her wrongdoing, although it was just a small lie.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Implication
Wrongdoing always suggests a negative action, reflecting badly on someone's character or integrity.
His career was ruined by allegations of wrongdoing.
Pro Tip 2/3Broad Application
Can be used for a wide range of bad actions, from minor infractions to major crimes.
He was fired for a minor act of wrongdoing at work.
Pro Tip 3/3Severity Variation
The severity of wrongdoing can vary greatly, sometimes requiring context to understand its gravity.
She felt guilty for her wrongdoing, although it was just a small lie.
Compare with
crimefelonyimproprietyiniquitymisconductmisdeedoffencetransgressiontrespass
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Video examples
How the NSA betrayed the...
They are not about doing surveillance on people that they have reason to suspect of some wrongdoings. They're about doing surveillance on people they know are innocent. So the four main arguments supporting surveillance like this, well, the first of all is that whenever you start
Video examples
How racial bias works --...
and see a black man in their otherwise white neighborhood and make the snap judgment that he was up to no good, even when there was no evidence of criminal wrongdoing. In many ways, how we behave online is a reflection of how we behave in the world.
Video examples
The Egyptian Book of the...
Now, it's Ani's moment of truth, the weighing of the heart. If his heart is heavier than the feather, weighed down by Ani's wrongdoings, it'll be devoured by the monstrous Ammit, part crocodile, part leopard, part hippopotamus,
Video examples
How deepfakes undermine...
we might start disbelieving the truth. We've already seen people invoke the phenomenon of deepfakes to cast doubt on real evidence of their wrongdoing. We've heard politicians say of audio of their disturbing comments,
Video examples
Why you think you're...
So they launched a big investigation, and their suspicions quickly converged on this man, Alfred Dreyfus. He had a sterling record, no past history of wrongdoing, no motive as far as they could tell.
Video examples
Rethinking infidelity...
when the perpetrator acknowledges their wrongdoing. So for the partner who had the affair, for Nick, one thing is to end the affair, but the other is the essential, important act of expressing
Video examples
The original ring of...
making them the most just and the happiest. Even without consequences for self-serving wrongdoings, they wouldn't commit them. Meanwhile, the tyrant succumbs to appetite and acts unjustly.
Video examples
What I learned serving...
irrespective of the fact that there was no evidence whatsoever that I had any wrongdoing on the charges that I was up against. I remember the events of my conviction
Video examples
Say your truths and seek...
but, like many siblings and like people in all kinds of relationships, we were hesitant to tell our truths, to reveal our wounds, to admit our wrongdoings.
Video examples
The language of lying —...
"Sorry, my phone died." "It's nothing. I'm fine." "These allegations are completely unfounded." "The company was not aware of any wrongdoing."
Video examples
How the NSA betrayed the...
They are not about doing surveillance on people that they have reason to suspect of some wrongdoings. They're about doing surveillance on people they know are innocent. So the four main arguments supporting surveillance like this, well, the first of all is that whenever you start
Video examples
How racial bias works --...
and see a black man in their otherwise white neighborhood and make the snap judgment that he was up to no good, even when there was no evidence of criminal wrongdoing. In many ways, how we behave online is a reflection of how we behave in the world.
Video examples
The Egyptian Book of the...
Now, it's Ani's moment of truth, the weighing of the heart. If his heart is heavier than the feather, weighed down by Ani's wrongdoings, it'll be devoured by the monstrous Ammit, part crocodile, part leopard, part hippopotamus,
Video examples
How deepfakes undermine...
we might start disbelieving the truth. We've already seen people invoke the phenomenon of deepfakes to cast doubt on real evidence of their wrongdoing. We've heard politicians say of audio of their disturbing comments,
Video examples
Why you think you're...
So they launched a big investigation, and their suspicions quickly converged on this man, Alfred Dreyfus. He had a sterling record, no past history of wrongdoing, no motive as far as they could tell.
Video examples
Rethinking infidelity...
when the perpetrator acknowledges their wrongdoing. So for the partner who had the affair, for Nick, one thing is to end the affair, but the other is the essential, important act of expressing
Video examples
The original ring of...
making them the most just and the happiest. Even without consequences for self-serving wrongdoings, they wouldn't commit them. Meanwhile, the tyrant succumbs to appetite and acts unjustly.
Video examples
What I learned serving...
irrespective of the fact that there was no evidence whatsoever that I had any wrongdoing on the charges that I was up against. I remember the events of my conviction
Video examples
Say your truths and seek...
but, like many siblings and like people in all kinds of relationships, we were hesitant to tell our truths, to reveal our wounds, to admit our wrongdoings.
Video examples
The language of lying —...
"Sorry, my phone died." "It's nothing. I'm fine." "These allegations are completely unfounded." "The company was not aware of any wrongdoing."
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Adrian Peterson
American Athlete
With trials, you become wiser. You learn more about yourself and the people surrounding you. Me personally, I've never been the type of person to judge anyone over wrongdoing, no matter what it is. I'm just not a judgmental person.
Quote examples
Martha Nussbaum
American Philosopher
Some emotions are essential to law and to public principles of justice: anger at wrongdoing, fear for our safety, compassion for the pain of others, all these are good reasons to make laws that protect people in their rights.
Quote examples
bell hooks
American Critic
For me, forgiveness and compassion are always linked: how do we hold people accountable for wrongdoing and yet at the same time remain in touch with their humanity enough to believe in their capacity to be transformed?
Quote examples
John Burnside
Scottish Writer
We do not need to be heroes to save the world; all we need is humility, a critical view of the commercial and political interests of those who would mislead us into wrongdoing, and a sense of wonder.
Quote examples
Claire Fox
British Writer
Constantly referring to past wrongdoings can become a substitute for developing a deeper analysis of today's foreign-policy challenges, of understanding what is new and different.
Quote examples
Neal Katyal
American Lawyer
Americans can tolerate some secrecy, particularly when it is rooted in protection of the public's interests. But when the claims appear to hide wrongdoing, they begin to curdle.
Quote examples
Jaya Prada
Indian Actress
It is imperative that mothers understand their child's behavior and not blindly support the wrongdoings or faults in their sons.
Quote examples
Neha Bhasin
Indian Singer
One should not tolerate anything wrong. One should raise his/her voice against the wrongdoings. Don't ignore, just call out.
Quote examples
Sally Yates
American Lawyer
Holding individuals accountable for corporate wrongdoing isn't ideological; it's good law enforcement.
Quote examples
Alycia Debnam-Carey
Australian Actress
The moment the world falls apart, you start forgetting history and wrongdoings in the past.
Quote examples
Adrian Peterson
American Athlete
With trials, you become wiser. You learn more about yourself and the people surrounding you. Me personally, I've never been the type of person to judge anyone over wrongdoing, no matter what it is. I'm just not a judgmental person.
Quote examples
Martha Nussbaum
American Philosopher
Some emotions are essential to law and to public principles of justice: anger at wrongdoing, fear for our safety, compassion for the pain of others, all these are good reasons to make laws that protect people in their rights.
Quote examples
bell hooks
American Critic
For me, forgiveness and compassion are always linked: how do we hold people accountable for wrongdoing and yet at the same time remain in touch with their humanity enough to believe in their capacity to be transformed?
Quote examples
John Burnside
Scottish Writer
We do not need to be heroes to save the world; all we need is humility, a critical view of the commercial and political interests of those who would mislead us into wrongdoing, and a sense of wonder.
Quote examples
Claire Fox
British Writer
Constantly referring to past wrongdoings can become a substitute for developing a deeper analysis of today's foreign-policy challenges, of understanding what is new and different.
Quote examples
Neal Katyal
American Lawyer
Americans can tolerate some secrecy, particularly when it is rooted in protection of the public's interests. But when the claims appear to hide wrongdoing, they begin to curdle.
Quote examples
Jaya Prada
Indian Actress
It is imperative that mothers understand their child's behavior and not blindly support the wrongdoings or faults in their sons.
Quote examples
Neha Bhasin
Indian Singer
One should not tolerate anything wrong. One should raise his/her voice against the wrongdoings. Don't ignore, just call out.
Quote examples
Sally Yates
American Lawyer
Holding individuals accountable for corporate wrongdoing isn't ideological; it's good law enforcement.
Quote examples
Alycia Debnam-Carey
Australian Actress
The moment the world falls apart, you start forgetting history and wrongdoings in the past.
Example 1 of 10
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