transgression
Crossing a line
Transgression is the act of crossing a boundary or violating a rule, law, or moral standard.
The word carries a sense of going beyond what is permitted: His transgressions caught up with him.
It often appears in religious or ethical contexts, where it suggests sin or moral failing: She sought forgiveness for her transgressions.
The term can also describe any overstepping of limits, from minor social missteps to serious violations.
Violation of divine law
- wickednessMoral corruption or evil
- iniquityMoral wrongdoing, grave injustice
- immoralityQuality of being wicked
- viceBad habit or deputy
depravity · evil · corruption · temptation · blasphemy · heresy · impurity · profanity
Punishable illegal act
- felonySerious criminal offense
- misdemeanorLesser criminal charge
- violationBreaking of rules
- infractionMinor rule breach
breach · offense · contravention · trespass · infringement · unlawfulness · illegality · misconduct
Exceeding appropriate bounds
- encroachmentGradual intrusion on territory
- intrusionUnauthorized entry into space
- invasionForcible entry into territory
- trespassUnauthorized entry onto property
crossing · exceeding · breach · limit · threshold · border · frontier · demarcation
Guilt for wrongdoing
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- penitenceRemorse for misdeeds
- regretSorrow over past actions
repentance · atonement · confession · redemption · absolution · conscience · culpability · self-reproach
Open resistance to authority
- disobedienceRefusal to follow orders
- insubordinationDefying workplace authority
- revoltOrganized resistance to power
- mutinyRevolt against authority
resistance · dissent · subversion · insurgency · civil disobedience · protest · nonconformity · uprising
sin
Violation of divine law
- wickednessMoral corruption or evil
- iniquityMoral wrongdoing, grave injustice
- immoralityQuality of being wicked
vice · depravity · evil · corruption · temptation · blasphemy · heresy · impurity · profanity · debauchery
crime
Punishable illegal act
- felonySerious criminal offense
- misdemeanorLesser criminal charge
- violationBreaking of rules
infraction · breach · offense · contravention · trespass · infringement · unlawfulness · illegality · misconduct · noncompliance
overstepping
Exceeding appropriate bounds
- encroachmentGradual intrusion on territory
- intrusionUnauthorized entry into space
- invasionForcible entry into territory
trespass · crossing · exceeding · breach · limit · threshold · border · frontier · demarcation · overstep
remorse
Guilt for wrongdoing
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- penitenceRemorse for misdeeds
regret · repentance · atonement · confession · redemption · absolution · conscience · culpability · self-reproach · compunction
defiance
Open resistance to authority
- disobedienceRefusal to follow orders
- insubordinationDefying workplace authority
- revoltOrganized resistance to power
mutiny · resistance · dissent · subversion · insurgency · civil disobedience · protest · nonconformity · uprising · insurrection
- wrongdoingmisconduct, crime, sabotage, crimes, misbehavior
- defiancedefiance, disobedience, insubordination, noncompliance, rebellion
- scandalscandal, infamy, disgrace, coverup, cover-up
- violationsviolation, infractions, infraction, breach, consent violation
- wrongdoingscrime, crimes, sin, sins, wrongdoing
- going too faroverdo, overstepping, crossing the line, overstep, cross the line
transgressionvirtue
Moral goodness or merit
righteousness · innocence · goodness · morality · rectitude
transgressionobedience
Compliance with authority
compliance · adherence · observance · conformity · lawfulness
transgressionrestraint
Control over impulses
self-control · forbearance · respect · propriety · discretion
- minor transgressionSmall wrongdoing, easily forgiven
- moral transgressionViolation of ethical standards