amiss

American  

[uh-mis] / əˈmɪs /

adverb

1. out of the right or proper course, order, or condition; improperly; wrongly; astray.

   Did I speak amiss?

   Synonyms:

   unsuitably, inappropriately

   Antonyms:

   properly, rightly

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adjective

1. improper; wrong; faulty.

   I think something is amiss in your calculations.

   Synonyms:

   askew, awry, erroneous, mistaken

   Antonyms:

   true, correct

idioms

1. take amiss, to be offended at or resentful of (something not meant to cause offense or resentment); misunderstand.

   I couldn't think of a way to present my view so that no one would take it amiss.

amiss British  

/ əˈmɪs /

adverb

1. in an incorrect, inappropriate, or defective manner

2. to be annoyed or offended by something

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adjective

1. (postpositive) wrong, incorrect, or faulty

amiss More Idioms  

1. see under take the wrong way.

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Etymology

Origin of amiss

1200–50; Middle English amis, equivalent to a- a- ¹ + mis wrong. See miss ¹

Explanation

When things are out of their proper places or not happening the way they should, we say they are amiss. Sherlock Holmes, like many sharp detectives, would quickly notice when something was amiss at a crime scene. The word amiss can be used as an adverb, as in the sentence, "I spoke amiss." Or you could use it as an adjective, as when you think something is wrong or missing — "Something in the room is amiss." Either way, amiss refers to something that is wrong, off the mark, or "missed." Once in a while, the word amiss can imply that something fishy or foul has taken place. In Hamlet, when Marcellus said, "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark," he might as well have said, "Something in Denmark is amiss."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

amiss

Schultz said nothing seemed amiss with their relationship and described the incident as “one of those crazy things that who knows what was going on underneath.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 11, 2026

Ensconced in an echo chamber, we run the risk of being the last to learn when something is amiss.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 11, 2026

But in Tucson, they're getting ready to welcome the Iranian football team as if nothing were amiss.

From Barron's ● May 13, 2026

A cluster of cases 13 years ago was one of the first major signs that something was amiss.

From Salon ● May 7, 2026

“Don’t take it so much amiss, sir,” pleaded the keeper to the angry passenger; “I’ll sit next you myself. I’ll put ’em on the outside of the row.

From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens

Related Words

• awry
• improper
• untoward