wrongly

wrongly — adverb

1. Used to describe an action that produces a result different from what is true, c

1.副詞B1
釋義

Used to describe an action that produces a result different from what is true, correct, or intended — for instance, picking the wrong door in a building or writing down a phone number with the wrong digits.

例句

Sayaka wrongly assumed the meeting was at two o'clock, so she arrived an hour early.

wrongly + past-tense verb (assumed)

The hotel address was wrongly printed on the confirmation form, leaving several guests confused.

passive: be + wrongly + past participle (printed)

同義詞
  • incorrectly

    The closest synonym; 'incorrectly' is slightly more formal and common in academic or technical contexts.

  • mistakenly

    Emphasizes that the error happened because of a misunderstanding or wrong belief.

  • erroneously

    More formal than 'wrongly'; typical in legal or scholarly writing.

反義詞
  • correctly

    The direct opposite — doing something in the right way.

  • accurately

    Emphasizes precision and exactness rather than simple correctness.

文法句型

wrongly + past participle (e.g., wrongly assumed)

wrongly + past-tense verb

用法筆記

Distinguish from the adjective 'wrong' used after linking verbs ('Her answer was wrong'). In formal writing, 'wrongly' is the preferred adverb form, though the flat adverb 'wrong' is common in everyday speech ('You spelled it wrong').

常見錯誤

❌Hari was wrong accused of taking the money.
✅Hari was wrongly accused of taking the money.
💡Use 'wrongly' (the adverb) before a past participle in a passive construction, not the adjective 'wrong'.
❌The machine functions wrong when it gets wet.
✅The machine functions wrongly when it gets wet.
💡When modifying a verb in formal writing, use 'wrongly' instead of the flat adverb 'wrong'.

2. Describing treatment of a person or group that lacks fairness or moral justifica

2.副詞B2
釋義

Describing treatment of a person or group that lacks fairness or moral justification — for example, firing an employee for a mistake they did not make, or giving a harsher sentence to one person than to another for the same crime.

例句

Nadia was wrongly accused of stealing office supplies and had to prove her innocence.

passive: wrongly accused

A judge ruled that the man was wrongly detained for weeks without evidence.

passive: wrongly detained in legal context

同義詞
  • unjustly

    The closest synonym; 'unjustly' more clearly emphasizes violation of fairness or legal right.

  • unfairly

    Slightly less formal than 'wrongly' in this sense; focuses on unequal or biased treatment.

  • unethically

    Focuses on violation of moral principles rather than legal justice.

反義詞
  • justly

    The direct opposite — with fairness and moral right.

  • fairly

    Common opposite in everyday contexts.

文法句型

wrongly + past participle in passive voice (e.g., wrongly imprisoned)

wrongly + verb of treatment

用法筆記

Frequently appears in legal and ethical contexts (wrongly convicted, wrongly imprisoned, wrongly dismissed). Unlike sense 1 ('INCORRECTLY'), this sense carries a moral judgment — the action is not just factually wrong but also unfair or unjust.

常見錯誤

❌She was treated wrong by the committee.
✅She was treated wrongly by the committee.
💡'Treated wrongly' is the correct adverb form for describing unfair treatment; 'wrong' as an adjective cannot modify the past participle.