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wrongdoer

American  
[rawng-doo-er, -doo-, rong-] / ˈrɔŋˌdu ər, -ˈdu-, ˈrɒŋ- /

noun

  1. a person who does wrong, especially a sinner or transgressor.

    Synonyms:
    offender, culprit, evildoer
wrongdoer British  
/ ˈrɒŋˌduːə /

noun

  1. a person who acts immorally or illegally

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of wrongdoer

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; wrong, doer

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In any event the wrongdoer has a strong “incentive to do better,” whatever course the victim chooses.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 10, 2025

Lance Bombardier Davis explained that Gunner Beck "didn't want to be seen as the wrongdoer", and feared she would receive "backlash" if he lost his job as a result.

From BBC • Feb. 11, 2025

The whole point of punitive damages is to punish the wrongdoer.

From Slate • Feb. 26, 2024

Like others who challenged Communist Party policy, he was largely erased from the official record, and he was sometimes painted as a wrongdoer for having spoken out.

From New York Times • Mar. 14, 2023

Heaven moves slowly in the punishment of the wicked, but its footsteps are sure and they travel irresistibly along the road that leads to vengeance on the wrongdoer.

From Chinese Folk-Lore Tales by Macgowan, J. (John)

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.