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

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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

The purpose is to have somebody to call in case the financial representative senses something amiss: unusual withdrawals, missed payments, confusion, forgetfulness or other signs of cognitive decline.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 24, 2026

“He was very motivational, very encouraging, but also would call out something if it was amiss; he wasn’t afraid—that was very revealing and very powerful for me as a young leader at that point.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 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

At The Times’ table in the ballroom, nothing appeared amiss at first.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 26, 2026

All the way to Woodward nothing seemed amiss.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

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Related Words

• awry
• improper
• untoward

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