PLAINTIFF Synonyms: 11 Similar and Opposite Words

plaintiff

noun

ˈplān-təf

Definition of plaintiff

as in complainant

the person in a legal proceeding who makes a charge of wrongdoing against another the judge ruled that the plaintiff's lawsuit was groundless, and he dismissed it

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of plaintiff The seven student plaintiffs in the case are part of an FIU group of students called ICEBreakers. — Daniel Rivero, Sun Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026 Jaffe, who is representing the plaintiffs, said the store owners are hoping the city will listen and try to reach an agreement with them. — Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026 One plaintiff, a 600-pound 15-year-old, acknowledged gorging at McDonald’s daily but was stunned by his rapidly expanding girth. — Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 24 Aug. 2026 The plaintiffs are 2022 high school graduates whose college eligibility expired last spring under the previous rules. — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for plaintiff

Recent Examples of Synonyms for plaintiff

Noun

Blackbox soon established that the complainant did not wish to participate, and alleges that 5 was aware of the individual’s reluctance to be the subject of a series based on their experience.

— Jake Kanter, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2026
Villareal said her clients have reported various forms of retaliation including solitary confinement or getting transfers to detention facilities far from a complainant's family and lawyers.

— Vanessa Romo, NPR, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of complainant

Noun

This disclosure prompted church leadership to meet with the accuser and her mother, which ultimately resulted in a report to the child abuse hotline that same month.

— John Lynch, Arkansas Online, 21 Aug. 2026
The film initially touched on the 1993 allegations against the singer, but a binding legal clause in the $20 million settlement with one accuser forced producers to scrap the third act, rewrite the script, reshoot, and end the first film in 1987.

— Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of accuser

Noun

Commercial cases are more complex, typically involving hundreds of pages of appraisals and legalese from the appellant.

— Alex Nitkin, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
If the appeals court affirms the conviction, the handbook says the appellant can then petition the United States Supreme Court for a certiorari review.

— Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 12 May 2026

Definition of appellant

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plaintiff

plaintiffs

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“Plaintiff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plaintiff. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of plaintiff

noun

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