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

Example Sentences

As for your husband’s IRAs, something is amiss.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

One morning in May 2024, Doris Suchet noticed something was amiss outside her flat in north Oxford.

From BBC • Feb. 25, 2026

Independent experts will be asked to look at what went amiss with LAUSD’s AI effort and helped plan next steps in the ongoing but stalled strategy.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 25, 2026

There they realise something is amiss and are soon swept up into a wildly unpredictable adventure.

From Barron's • Feb. 12, 2026

He seemed not to have noticed anything amiss, but very casually he reached out his hand and covered Hannah’s worn fingers with his own.

From "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" by Elizabeth George Speare

Related Words

• awry
• improper
• untoward