misdeed — a wicked or illegal act; wrongdoing
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a wicked or illegal act; wrongdoing
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈmɪsdiːd/
Example Sentences
- The superhero's secret identity was revealed because of one small misdeed in his youth.
- She spent years trying to make up for her childhood misdeeds.
- The cat's misdeed was obvious from the broken vase and guilty expression.
misdeed
NOUN[/ˈmɪsdiːd/]
a wicked or illegal act; wrongdoing
The boy's misdeed of stealing cookies left crumbs leading straight to his hiding spot.
His misdeed was exposed when the investigators discovered that he had deliberately broken the rules. (Think: MISDEED = MIS + DEED → MIS- = wrong / badly, DEED = an act)
The misdeed was indeed a serious deed, and the judge demanded that he take responsibility for it.
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Formed in the 14th century by combining the prefix 'mis-' (meaning wrong or bad) with 'deed' (an action or act). This straightforward compound literally means 'a wrong deed' or 'bad action.'
Breakdown
mis- (wrong/bad) + deed (action/act)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The superhero's secret identity was revealed because of one small misdeed in his youth.”
“She spent years trying to make up for her childhood misdeeds.”
“The cat's misdeed was obvious from the broken vase and guilty expression.”
“The company tried to cover up their environmental misdeeds.”
📚Related Words
Want to master 27,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.