noun
iniquity
ihn-IHK-wih-tee
Iniquity (noun) means Deep moral wrongdoing; wickedness or gross injustice. Example: “The preacher warned the congregation against a life of iniquity.”
noun
1
Deep moral wrongdoing; wickedness or gross injustice.
"Nekhlúdoff awoke next morning feeling as if he had been guilty of some iniquity the day before. He began considering. He could not remember having done anything wrong; he had committed no evil act, but he had had evil thoughts."
— Leo Tolstoy, Lydia Shoústova’s Home (1900)
"The preacher warned the congregation against a life of iniquity."
"The novel explores the iniquity at the heart of the corrupt regime."
"But ever since the concept of "hamartia" recurred through Aristotle's Poetics, in an attempt to describe man's ingrained iniquity, our impulse has been to identify a telling defect in those brought suddenly and dramatically low."
— Oliver Brown (2014)
How to use iniquity
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSerious wickedness or injustice — a fairly formal, often religious-sounding word for sin.
When to use it
Mostly used in formal, literary, or religious writing rather than everyday speech.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a den of iniquity
acts of iniquity
steeped in iniquity
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Word forms
- Plural
- iniquities
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The preacher warned the congregation against a life of _____.
Etymology
From Latin iniquitas, "unfairness," from iniquus, "unequal or unjust" — literally in- ("not") plus aequus ("equal, fair").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for iniquity
See all rhymes for iniquity →Frequently asked questions
What does “iniquity” mean?
The word “iniquity” means deep moral wrongdoing; wickedness or gross injustice. In plain terms, serious wickedness or injustice — a fairly formal, often religious-sounding word for sin.
How do you pronounce “iniquity”?
“Iniquity” is pronounced ihn-IHK-wih-tee (/ɪnˈɪkwɪti/ in IPA).
How do you use “iniquity” in a sentence?
Here is “iniquity” used in a sentence: “The preacher warned the congregation against a life of iniquity.”
What is another word for “iniquity”?
Words with a similar meaning to “iniquity” include baseness, corruption, defilement, degeneracy, degradation and depravedness.
What is the opposite of “iniquity”?
The opposite of “iniquity” — its antonyms — are integrity, morality and well-doing.
What part of speech is “iniquity”?
“Iniquity” is a noun.
Where does the word “iniquity” come from?
The word “iniquity” comes from Latin. From Latin iniquitas, "unfairness," from iniquus, "unequal or unjust" — literally in- ("not") plus aequus ("equal, fair").
