commit a misdeed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "commit a misdeed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of doing something wrong or unethical. Example: "The politician was forced to resign after it was revealed that he had committed a misdeed during his campaign."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

(If you committed a misdeed, you had to ask for punishment. Then you were locked in a closet).

The New Yorker

Such a departure from tradition carries terrible risks, not least that if a president or a cabinet secretary actually commits a misdeed, the administration won't be able to enlist its attorney general in a whitewash.

The New York Times

Commit a Time.

WikiHow

BAKU, 30 November 2015 - When making a misdeed or even committing a minor offence, a teenager falls under jurisdiction of a judicial system, which in post-Soviet countries is not responding well to child nature.

Unicef

You committed a sin".

The New York Times - Magazine

This is not to say that financiers and financial institutions still do not commit foolish misdeeds.

The New York Times

They anticipate that, like other companies built on the idea of collaborative consumption, peer-to-peer sharing or "recommerce," as Ms. Nand describes it, including Rent the Runway, Getaround and Zipcar, they will have to decide how to deal with people who keep bottles too long, try to siphon out polish or commit other misdeeds.

The New York Times

First, when misconduct is merely swept under the rug, rogue prosecutors are more likely to keep their jobs -- meaning they'll be able to commit further misdeeds down the line.

Huffington Post

In the nineteen-nineties, during Kavanaugh's first brush with prominence, it was said that some conservatives suffered from Clinton derangement syndrome — an obsessive belief that the President and the First Lady had committed every misdeed that was attributed to them.

The New Yorker

The paper draws from two threads of research on CEO misbehaviour: "opportunism", the idea that advancing in rank makes one more likely to commit misdeeds, and "targeting", the idea that CEOs' misbehaviour is uncovered more often because their higher status draws more attention.

The Economist

"Do you want the neighbors to laugh at me for bearing seven daughters?" she'd ask after I'd committed some misdeed.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "commit a misdeed" when you want to specifically denote an action that is wrong but not necessarily a serious crime. This phrase carries a lighter connotation than terms like "commit a crime".

Common error

Avoid using "commit a misdeed" in very informal contexts. Simpler phrases like "do something wrong" may be more appropriate for casual conversations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "commit a misdeed" functions as a verb phrase, where "commit" is the main verb and "a misdeed" is the direct object. The phrase describes the action of performing a wrong or unethical act. Ludwig AI states that it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "commit a misdeed" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that describes performing a wrong or unethical action. According to Ludwig, it's appropriate for various writing contexts. While less formal than "commit a crime", it's still best suited for neutral to professional settings like news reports or formal documents. Alternatives include "engage in wrongdoing" or "perpetrate an offense", depending on the specific nuance desired. The phrase is most commonly found in News & Media.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

engage in wrongdoing

This alternative is more general, encompassing any form of unethical or illegal behavior.

perpetrate an offense

This alternative suggests a more formal and potentially serious violation of rules or laws.

do wrong

This is a simpler and more direct way of expressing the action of committing a misdeed.

transgress

This alternative implies a violation of moral or religious principles.

err

This alternative suggests making a mistake or deviating from what is right.

misbehave

This alternative often refers to actions that are inappropriate or disruptive, especially in a social context.

act improperly

This alternative highlights the lack of adherence to established standards of conduct.

fall from grace

This alternative implies a loss of status or reputation due to a misdeed.

stray from the path of righteousness

This alternative suggests a deviation from moral or ethical principles.

violate standards of conduct

This alternative implies breaking rules.

FAQs

What does it mean to "commit a misdeed"?

To "commit a misdeed" means to perform an action that is morally wrong or improper, though not necessarily illegal or severely harmful.

What can I say instead of "commit a misdeed"?

You can use alternatives like "engage in wrongdoing", "perpetrate an offense", or simply "do wrong" depending on the context.

Is "commit a misdeed" a formal or informal phrase?

"Commit a misdeed" is considered a relatively formal phrase, best suited for professional or neutral contexts rather than casual conversation.

How do I use "commit a misdeed" in a sentence?

You can use "commit a misdeed" to describe someone's action that is morally questionable but not a major crime, such as "The politician resigned after it was revealed he had committed a misdeed during his campaign."