What does "misbegotten" mean?
One born illegitimately (i.e., out of wedlock); a bastard.
Misbegotten
/ˌmɪsbɪˈɡɒtn̩/ adj, noun, verb
adj, noun, verb ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: One born illegitimately (i.e., out of wedlock); a bastard.
- Grammar: misbegotten is listed as adj, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: spurious, bandy, bandy-legged, baroque.
- Useful contrasts: authentic, genuine, legitimate.
- Usage evidence: Voters may yet reject the misbegotten 'Dream Act'.
How to use "misbegotten"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "misbegotten" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "misbegotten" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "misbegotten" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "misbegotten" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "misbegotten" is acting as adj, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "spurious" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "misbegotten", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 One born illegitimately (i.e., out of wedlock); a bastard. derogatory, obsolete, sometimes
- 2 A person born into infelicitous circumstances. broadly, in-plural
"By preserving the incapable and “misbegotten”, and by insisting that they be the object of compassionate attention, it would cause even the strong to be infected with gloom and nihilism."
Verb
- 1 past participle of misbeget form-of, participle, past
Adjective
- 1 Born out of wedlock; illegitimate.
"But as the Deuill would haue it, three miſ-be-gotten Knaues, in Kendall Greene, came at my Back, […]"
- 2 Ill-conceived. broadly, figuratively
"Many of the strangest, most misbegotten studio films of the last 20 years have been comedies, perhaps because middle-aged executives have no comprehension of what the younger generation finds funny."
- 3 Bad; worthless. broadly
"Rather, as there was something abnormal and misbegotten in the very essence of the creature that now faced me—something seizing, surprising and revolting—this fresh disparity seemed but to fit in with and to rëinforce it;[…]"
Adjective
- 1 born out of wedlock wordnet
Antonyms
Example
"Voters may yet reject the misbegotten 'Dream Act'."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "misbegotten"?
Common synonyms include: spurious, bandy, bandy-legged, baroque, baseborn, bastard.
How do you use "misbegotten" in a sentence?
Voters may yet reject the misbegotten 'Dream Act'.
How do you pronounce "misbegotten"?
Pronounced /ˌmɪsbɪˈɡɒtn̩/.
Etymology
From mis- + begotten.