Synonyms of defector

defector

noun

as in deserter

a person who abandons a cause or organization usually without right

the defector demanded political asylum in exchange for information about his nation's spying operations

Synonyms & Similar Words

• deserter
• traitor
• renegade
• rebel
• insurgent
• apostate
• revolutionary
• turncoat
• betrayer
• quisling
• recreant
• mutineer
• traitress
• turnabout
• insurrectionist
• abandoner
• double-crosser
• discontent
• dropout
• leaver
• revolutionist
• revolter
• insurrectionary
• refusenik
• red
• defier
• recusant
• revolutionizer
• refuser
• come-outer
• malcontent

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• disciple
• supporter
• follower
• loyalist
• adherent
• partisan
• militant
• fanatic
• zealot

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of defector

South Korean research has documented possible signs of radiation exposure in defectors from North Korea who lived near the test site, but scientists said the cause remains unclear. — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 17 Sep. 2026

But the new work found that if the rewards change with time (even by a small amount), then a second stable point emerges from the model, allowing both cooperators and defectors to coexist. — Chris Lee, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026

Mateen Bhaghani, another Golden Bear defector, converted a 38-yard field goal and the UCLA lead was 24-17 at the half. — Jeff Faraudo, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2026

Sources include defectors, informants and individuals who remain embedded within movements while passing information to outsiders. — Arie Perliger, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026

Anthropic, founded by OpenAI defectors, is now expected to be the first of the two companies to go public, two people familiar with its plans say, with the IPO as early as September. — Alex Heath, Time, 26 Aug. 2026

The documentary tracks students at the Jangdaehyun School in Busan, South Korea – an institution serving North Korean defectors and their families. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 18 Aug. 2026

But intelligence officials previously told The Associated Press that Russia’s security services are now more brazen in their choice of targets, going after Russian activists and foreign supporters of Ukraine as well as military defectors. — Claudia Ciobanu, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026

But intelligence officials previously told The Associated Press that Russia's security services are now more brazen in their choice of targets, going after Russian activists and foreign supporters of Ukraine as well as military defectors. — CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026