gravest wrong

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "gravest wrong" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or action that is considered to be the most serious or severe form of wrongdoing. Example: "The decision to ignore the evidence was seen as the gravest wrong committed by the committee."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In this symbolism lies the gravest wrong, I think.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Pruitt's gravest wrongs involve not tens of thousands of dollars but, potentially, tens of millions of lives.

The New Yorker

The award the jury gave her, she said, was the result of a hard look at a grave wrong.

The New York Times

If, as many Irish people believe, it is wrong to abort pregnancies, it seems to me that it would have been a graver wrong to bring a child into the world in such unhappy circumstances.

The Guardian

António Horta-Osório had arrived as chief executive and, in almost his first act, declared that Lloyds' past mis-selling of payment protection insurance, or PPI, was a grave wrong that had to be put right.

The Guardian - Business

"Today's committee vote is an important first step to righting a grave wrong perpetrated on the women of the world by President Bush in his attempts to pander to anti-choice extremists," said Rosemary Dempsey, head of the Washington office of the Center for Reproductive Law and Policy.

The New York Times

Virtually all feminists agree that rape is a grave wrong, one too often ignored, mischaracterized, and legitimized.

SEP

A just cause of war is "a grave wrong which cannot be avenged or repaired in any other way" (DDB 4.1).[14] Examples are the unjust seizure of property of the prince or subjects, violations to the rights of nations, and, controversially, grave injuries to the honor or reputation of the prince or the subjects (DDB 4.3).

SEP

He sat back and folded his hands, began nodding as if remembering some long-ago grave wrong.

Vice

Therefore we abhor deliberate or reckless untruth in this study as much as in any other; and therefore we feel that a grave wrong is committed by all who, holding a position that entitles them to respect, yet condone and encourage such untruth.

Wikipedia

It isn't even a case of the reporter's having fabricated or plagiarized, which are graver wrongs than credulousness, and far harder to fathom.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "gravest wrong" to emphasize the extreme severity of an action or situation. It is particularly effective when discussing ethical, moral, or legal transgressions.

Common error

Avoid using "gravest wrong" in everyday conversations or trivial situations. Its strong connotation of seriousness can sound overly dramatic or inappropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gravest wrong" functions as a noun phrase, where "gravest" modifies the noun "wrong". It serves to identify and emphasize the most severe form of an injustice or misdeed. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is usable and correct in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "gravest wrong" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to emphasize the extreme severity of an action or situation. As indicated by Ludwig AI, this term is suitable for describing ethical, moral, or legal transgressions, especially in news and media contexts. While not frequently used, "gravest wrong" effectively conveys a strong sense of disapproval and a call for rectification, and it is most suited for formal situations. Related phrases, like "most serious offense" or "most profound injustice", can offer alternative ways to express the severity of the wrongdoing, depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

most serious offense

Replaces "wrong" with "offense" and "gravest" with "most serious", emphasizing the severity of the transgression.

most grievous error

Substitutes "wrong" with "error" and "gravest" with "most grievous", highlighting the significant negative consequences.

most profound injustice

Replaces "wrong" with "injustice" and "gravest" with "most profound", focusing on the fairness aspect.

most significant transgression

Substitutes "wrong" with "transgression" and "gravest" with "most significant", framing the act as a violation of rules or norms.

greatest moral failing

Replaces "wrong" with "moral failing" and "gravest" with "greatest", emphasizing the ethical dimension.

most deplorable act

Substitutes "wrong" with "act" and "gravest" with "most deplorable", highlighting the reprehensible nature of the action.

most egregious violation

Replaces "wrong" with "violation" and "gravest" with "most egregious", accentuating the outrageous and unacceptable aspect.

most consequential misdeed

Substitutes "wrong" with "misdeed" and "gravest" with "most consequential", focusing on the far-reaching effects of the wrongdoing.

most appalling injustice

Replaces "gravest" with "most appalling", placing emphasis on the shock and dismay caused by the injustice.

major ethical breach

Replaces the entire phrase with a more concise term, indicating a serious violation of ethical principles.

FAQs

How can I use "gravest wrong" in a sentence?

You can use "gravest wrong" to describe a situation or action considered the most serious or severe form of wrongdoing. For example, "The decision to ignore the evidence was seen as the gravest wrong committed by the committee."

What can I say instead of "gravest wrong"?

You can use alternatives like "most serious offense", "most profound injustice", or "greatest moral failing" depending on the specific context.

Is "gravest wrong" a common phrase in legal contexts?

While "gravest wrong" can be used to describe serious legal transgressions, it's more frequently encountered in general discussions of ethics, morality, or historical events where severe injustices have occurred. Other alternatives are more common within legal jargon.

What distinguishes "gravest wrong" from a "serious mistake"?

"Gravest wrong" implies a deliberate or highly negligent action that violates ethical or moral principles, carrying a strong sense of blameworthiness. A "serious mistake" /s/serious+mistake, while having significant consequences, may stem from unintentional error or misjudgment.