misdeed
Act deserving punishment
A misdeed is a wrongful or wicked act—something done that shouldn't have been.
The word has an old-fashioned, slightly formal quality: The senator's past misdeeds came back to haunt him.
It suggests moral failing more than legal violation, though the two often overlap.
Violation of law or code
- violationBreaking of rules
- infractionMinor rule breach
- wrongdoingUnethical or illegal action
- trespassUnauthorized entry onto property
breach · indiscretion · impropriety · peccadillo · malfeasance · delinquency · insubordination · defiance
Violation of divine law
- wrongdoingUnethical or illegal action
- evilProfound moral wickedness
- wickednessMoral corruption or evil
- immoralityQuality of being wicked
unethical · dishonesty · impropriety · shameful · disgraceful · reprehensible · unscrupulous · nefarious
Guilt for wrongdoing
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- penitenceRemorse for misdeeds
- self-reproachBlaming oneself for wrongdoing
culpability · conscience · confession · atonement · repentance · compunction · sorrow · regret
Serious criminal offense
- misdemeanorLesser criminal charge
- theftUnlawful taking of property
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- assaultViolent offensive act
burglary · robbery · arson · forgery · vandalism · larceny · embezzlement · smuggling
Corrupt payment for influence
- graftIllicit political gain
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- kickbackIllegal payment for services
- nepotismPreferring kin in hiring
cronyism · collusion · money laundering · racketeering · profiteering · exploitation · influence peddling · fraud
Penalty for an offense
- retributionPunishment for wrongdoing
- sentenceComplete thought, grammatically
- penaltyPunishment for wrongdoing
- justiceFair treatment under law
reckoning · accountability · restitution · amends · atonement · redemption · absolution · forgiveness
transgression
Violation of law or code
- violationBreaking of rules
- infractionMinor rule breach
- wrongdoingUnethical or illegal action
trespass · breach · indiscretion · impropriety · peccadillo · malfeasance · delinquency · insubordination · defiance · disobedience
sin
Violation of divine law
- wrongdoingUnethical or illegal action
- evilProfound moral wickedness
- wickednessMoral corruption or evil
immorality · unethical · dishonesty · impropriety · shameful · disgraceful · reprehensible · unscrupulous · nefarious · iniquity
remorse
Guilt for wrongdoing
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- penitenceRemorse for misdeeds
self-reproach · culpability · conscience · confession · atonement · repentance · compunction · sorrow · regret · blame
felony
Serious criminal offense
- misdemeanorLesser criminal charge
- theftUnlawful taking of property
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
assault · burglary · robbery · arson · forgery · vandalism · larceny · embezzlement · smuggling · trafficking
bribery
Corrupt payment for influence
- graftIllicit political gain
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- kickbackIllegal payment for services
nepotism · cronyism · collusion · money laundering · racketeering · profiteering · exploitation · influence peddling · fraud · scandal
punishment
Penalty for an offense
- retributionPunishment for wrongdoing
- sentenceComplete thought, grammatically
- penaltyPunishment for wrongdoing
justice · reckoning · accountability · restitution · amends · atonement · redemption · absolution · forgiveness · trial
- mis- wordsmisbehave, miscall, miscount, misfire, misfit
- crimesarson, burglary, robbery, kidnapping, vandalism
- wrongdoingcrime, sabotage, crimes, transgression, wrongdoing
- scandalscandal, infamy, disgrace, coverup, cover-up
- wrongdoingscrime, crimes, sin, sins, wrongdoing
- wrongswrong, wrongdoing, mistake, error, fault
misdeedgood deed
Benevolent act
kindness · noble act · virtue · right action · blamelessness
misdeednoncrime
Permitted conduct
legality · legal action · compliance · adherence · achievement