ENGLISH
REFERENCE

wronged

adj.
C1 Advanced US //ˈɹɔŋd// UK //ɹˈɒŋd// wronged

adj. feeling that someone has treated you unfairly or done something bad to you. You use this when you feel like a victim of an injustice.

adj. feeling or being the victim of an injustice or unfair treatment. Often used predicatively after linking verbs such as 'feel' or 'seem' to describe a person's emotional state.


SIMPLE

He felt deeply wronged by his friend's lies.

CONTEXTUAL

The dismissed employee felt wronged by the company and decided to seek legal advice regarding her contract.

COMPLEX

In many classic tragedies, the protagonist is a wronged individual whose quest for justice eventually leads to their own moral and physical downfall.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Usage

Often follows linking verbs like 'feel', 'look', or 'seem'; can also be used attributively to describe a person.

Pitfall

he was wrong by themhe was wronged by themLearners often use the adjective 'wrong' instead of the participial adjective 'wronged' when describing the victim of an action.

© 2026 English Reference