wrongful
Not legally justified
Wrongful describes actions that are unjust, unfair, or without legal right.
The word typically appears in legal contexts: wrongful death, wrongful termination, wrongful conviction.
A wrongful death suit seeks damages when someone dies due to another's negligence.
Wrongful termination means being fired in violation of law or contract.
The word emphasizes that something shouldn't have happened—not just that it was wrong, but that it violated someone's rights.
Not fair or right
- unfairUnjust or partial
- undeservedNot rightfully owed
- unwarrantedWithout adequate justification
- unmeritedNot rightfully due
inequitable · biased · discriminatory · prejudiced · arbitrary · groundless · baseless · unfounded
Physical or psychological harm
- damageHarm or impairment
- sufferingSustained experience of distress
- traumaLasting psychological wound
- victimizationBeing made to suffer
mistreatment · abuse · violation · hurt · affliction · grievance · tort · aggression
Civil court proceeding
- liabilityLegal or financial obligation
- damagesCompensation for injury
- compensationPayment for services rendered
- claimStatement of ownership or truth
settlement · litigation · malpractice · negligence · tort · civil action · plaintiff · defendant
Forbidden by statute
- illicitProhibited by law
- criminalPerson who breaks laws
- prohibitedOfficially not permitted
- fraudulentInvolving intentional dishonesty
unauthorized · illegitimate · contraband · trespass · forgery · perjury · embezzlement · misconduct
Violating moral standards
- dishonorableLacking integrity or ethics
- reprehensibleDeserving condemnation
- unconscionableMorally unacceptable, beyond reason
- indefensibleCannot be justified
shameful · disgraceful · blameworthy · culpable · sinful · wicked · corrupt · nefarious
unjust
Not fair or right
- unfairUnjust or partial
- undeservedNot rightfully owed
- unwarrantedWithout adequate justification
unmerited · inequitable · biased · discriminatory · prejudiced · arbitrary · groundless · baseless · unfounded · disproportionate
injury
Physical or psychological harm
victimization · mistreatment · abuse · violation · hurt · affliction · grievance · tort · aggression · persecution
lawsuit
Civil court proceeding
- liabilityLegal or financial obligation
- damagesCompensation for injury
- compensationPayment for services rendered
claim · settlement · litigation · malpractice · negligence · tort · civil action · plaintiff · defendant · exoneration
unlawful
Forbidden by statute
- illicitProhibited by law
- criminalPerson who breaks laws
- prohibitedOfficially not permitted
fraudulent · unauthorized · illegitimate · contraband · trespass · forgery · perjury · embezzlement · misconduct · malfeasance
unethical
Violating moral standards
- dishonorableLacking integrity or ethics
- reprehensibleDeserving condemnation
- unconscionableMorally unacceptable, beyond reason
indefensible · shameful · disgraceful · blameworthy · culpable · sinful · wicked · corrupt · nefarious · inexcusable
- unfairnessunfair, unjust, biased, unequal, inequitable
- Forbiddenforbidden, prohibited, banned, not allowed, off-limits
- imprisonmentprison, jail, prisoners, cells, captivity
- statusespending, active, approved, inactive, completed
wrongfulrightful
Legally or morally valid
lawful · legal · legitimate · authorized · justified
wrongfulproper
Socially appropriate
sanctioned · endorsed · supported · permitted · encouraged
- wrongful convictionErroneous guilty verdict
- wrongful deathDeath caused by another's fault
- wrongful arrestDetention lacking legal justification
- wrongfully convictedJudged guilty without cause
- wrongful imprisonmentUnlawful confinement of innocents
- wrongful accusationUnfounded claim of guilt