misconduct
Violation of ethics
Misconduct is improper or unacceptable behavior, especially by someone in a position of responsibility or trust.
The word usually appears in formal or institutional contexts: professional misconduct, police misconduct, sexual misconduct.
A finding of misconduct can lead to discipline, termination, or legal consequences.
The verb means to behave improperly or to manage badly: He misconducted himself at the conference.
Unethical or illegal action
- misdeedImmoral or illegal act
- transgressionViolation of law or code
- infractionMinor rule breach
- improprietyUnsuitable or inappropriate behavior
violation · breach · offense · delinquency · indiscipline · insubordination · disobedience · defiance
Corrupt payment for influence
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- graftIllicit political gain
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
extortion · nepotism · cronyism · profiteering · racketeering · payola · skimming · pilferage
Prohibited athletic drug use
- cheatingDeceptive rule-breaking
- suspensionTemporary halt or exclusion
- banOfficial restriction on something
- disqualificationRemoval from eligibility
ejection · unsportsmanlike · violation · steroids · PEDs · sanctions · investigation · stripped
Harmful professional negligence
- negligenceFailure to exercise care
- incompetenceLack of required skill
- derelictionAbandonment of duty
- unprofessionalNot meeting workplace standards
recklessness · oversight · liability · accountability · suspension · termination · revocation · censure
Aggressive, unwanted targeting
- assaultViolent offensive act
- abuseCruel or violent treatment
- inappropriateNot suitable or fitting
- complaintExpression of discontent
investigation · allegation · victim · survivor · perpetrator · reporting · retaliation · settlement
Assertion lacking proof
- investigationFormal examination of facts
- cover-upHiding wrongdoing from public
- whistleblowerInsider who reports misconduct
- resignationVoluntary relinquishment of position
disgrace · infamy · fallout · expose · leak · testimony · outrage · backlash
Formal charge from jury
- arraignmentCharge-reading court session
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- convictionFirmly held belief
- acquittalFormal clearing of charges
sentencing · verdict · testimony · perjury · contempt · subpoena · litigation · defense
wrongdoing
Unethical or illegal action
- misdeedImmoral or illegal act
- transgressionViolation of law or code
- infractionMinor rule breach
impropriety · violation · breach · offense · delinquency · indiscipline · insubordination · disobedience · defiance · noncompliance
bribery
Corrupt payment for influence
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- graftIllicit political gain
kickbacks · extortion · nepotism · cronyism · profiteering · racketeering · payola · skimming · pilferage · misappropriation
doping
Prohibited athletic drug use
- cheatingDeceptive rule-breaking
- suspensionTemporary halt or exclusion
- banOfficial restriction on something
disqualification · ejection · unsportsmanlike · violation · steroids · PEDs · sanctions · investigation · stripped · ineligible
malpractice
Harmful professional negligence
- negligenceFailure to exercise care
- incompetenceLack of required skill
- derelictionAbandonment of duty
unprofessional · recklessness · oversight · liability · accountability · suspension · termination · revocation · censure · reprimand
harassment
Aggressive, unwanted targeting
- assaultViolent offensive act
- abuseCruel or violent treatment
- inappropriateNot suitable or fitting
complaint · investigation · allegation · victim · survivor · perpetrator · reporting · retaliation · settlement · NDA
allegation
Assertion lacking proof
- investigationFormal examination of facts
- cover-upHiding wrongdoing from public
- whistleblowerInsider who reports misconduct
resignation · disgrace · infamy · fallout · expose · leak · testimony · outrage · backlash · headline
indictment
Formal charge from jury
- arraignmentCharge-reading court session
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- convictionFirmly held belief
acquittal · sentencing · verdict · testimony · perjury · contempt · subpoena · litigation · defense · appeal
- defiancedefiance, disobedience, insubordination, noncompliance, rebellion
- misbehaviormisbehave, mischief, naughty, naughtiness, disobedient
- misconductbullying, stealing, vandalism, cheating, harassment
- unrulinessdisobedience, defiance, insubordination, indiscipline, disorderliness
- work problemslayoff, firing, low pay, burnout, deadline pressure
- academic fraudplagiarism, academic dishonesty, exam cheating, fake degrees, diploma mills
misconductpropriety
Correctness of conduct
good behavior · decorum · manners · rectitude · discipline
misconductprofessional conduct
Proper workplace behavior standards
ethical conduct · ethical practice · integrity · probity · uprightness
- police misconductUnlawful acts by officers
- sexual misconductImproper intimate behavior
- gross misconductSevere workplace violation
- official misconductUnlawful acts by authorities
- academic misconductDishonest behavior in education
- judicial misconductImproper behavior by judges