The petty misdeeds of his youth came back to haunt him when he ran for political office and his character was smeared.
Source: wiktionary
Misdeed
/mɪsˈdiːd/
Synonyms for "misdeed" (68 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (14)
atrocitybreachcrimecrime against humanitydeadly sindelinquencyderelictionenormityerrorevilfailurefault
Noun(2 words)
Strong matches (20)
felonygenocideguilty actheavy sinimproprietyindiscretioninexpiable sininiquityinjuryinjusticelapsemalefactionmalfeasancemalumminor wrongmisconduct
Noun(4 words)
Related words (34)
misdeedsmisdemeanormisdoingmisfeasancemortal sinnonfeasanceoffenceoffenseomissionoutragepeccadillopeccancysinsin of commissionsin of omissionsinful actsliptorttransgressiontrespass
Show 5 more words
Noun(8 words)
Adjective(1 words)
violent act
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: atrocity, breach, committing, crime, crime against humanity.
- Sentence evidence is available for misdeed, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, wordnet, opengloss, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "misdeed".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "misdeed"
Keep "misdeed" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "misdeed" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "misdeed", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "misdeed" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
6 entriesMore specific
4 entriesCollocations
6 entriescriminal misdeedgrave misdeedheinous misdeedmoral misdeedpetty misdeedserious misdeed
Inflections
1 entriesSample sentences
2 total sentences available.
These [putting feet on seats and leaving rubbish behind] are officially among the worst habits revealed by staff working on Northern's trains and at stations. Other bugbears include playing music through loudspeakers, not giving way to passengers getting off the train and actually illegal activities such as fare evasion and vaping in enclosed spaces. The list of misdeeds was released by the operator on March 3 to coincide with Employee Appreciation Day.
Source: wiktionary
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "misdeed"?
Closest matches include atrocity, breach, committing, crime, crime against humanity.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "misdeed"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.