misdoing
An ethical violation
Misdoing is wrongful action or misconduct—a somewhat formal or old-fashioned term for bad behavior or transgression.
It appears most often in legal or moral contexts: The investigation uncovered years of corporate misdoing.
The word suggests deliberate wrongdoing rather than innocent error.
Violation or umbrage
- felonySerious criminal offense
- transgressionViolation of law or code
- violationBreaking of rules
- infractionMinor rule breach
larceny · burglary · arson · assault · theft · fraud · robbery · vandalism
Violation of law or code
- iniquityMoral wrongdoing, grave injustice
- wickednessMoral corruption or evil
- viceBad habit or deputy
- immoralityQuality of being wicked
depravity · trespass · evil · wrongfulness · sinfulness · unrighteousness · profanity · sacrilege
Corrupt payment for influence
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- graftIllicit political gain
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
- nepotismPreferring kin in hiring
cronyism · extortion · money laundering · influence peddling · malfeasance · profiteering · scandal · venality
Guilt for wrongdoing
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- penitenceRemorse for misdeeds
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- regretSorrow over past actions
self-reproach · repentance · compunction · culpability · blame · responsibility · accountability · liability
Foolish, costly mistake
- misstepError in action or judgment
- lapseBrief failure or expiration
- slipMinor error or misstep
- gaffeClumsy social error
oversight · miscalculation · misjudgment · fault · faux pas · indiscretion · impropriety · bungle
Playful trick on someone
- naughtinessMinor improper conduct
- shenanigansMischievous or deceitful behavior
- tomfooleryFoolish or silly behavior
- anticsAbsurd, attention-seeking behavior
impishness · roguery · high jinks · monkey business · devilry · misbehavior · troublemaking · horseplay
offense
Violation or umbrage
- felonySerious criminal offense
- transgressionViolation of law or code
- violationBreaking of rules
infraction · larceny · burglary · arson · assault · theft · fraud · robbery · vandalism · trespassing
transgression
Violation of law or code
- iniquityMoral wrongdoing, grave injustice
- wickednessMoral corruption or evil
- viceBad habit or deputy
immorality · depravity · trespass · evil · wrongfulness · sinfulness · unrighteousness · profanity · sacrilege · impiety
bribery
Corrupt payment for influence
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- graftIllicit political gain
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
nepotism · cronyism · extortion · money laundering · influence peddling · malfeasance · profiteering · scandal · venality · abuse of power
remorse
Guilt for wrongdoing
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- penitenceRemorse for misdeeds
- shamePainful awareness of failure
regret · self-reproach · repentance · compunction · culpability · blame · responsibility · accountability · liability · confession
blunder
Foolish, costly mistake
gaffe · oversight · miscalculation · misjudgment · fault · faux pas · indiscretion · impropriety · bungle · fumble
prank
Playful trick on someone
- naughtinessMinor improper conduct
- shenanigansMischievous or deceitful behavior
- tomfooleryFoolish or silly behavior
antics · impishness · roguery · high jinks · monkey business · devilry · misbehavior · troublemaking · horseplay · acting up
misdoingrighteousness
Moral correctness or virtue
virtue · goodness · right conduct · morality · good deed
misdoinglawfulness
Conformity to regulations
compliance · noncrime · obedience · conformity · propriety