hostile witness

idiom

: witness in a legal case who supports the opposing side

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web McConney was granted immunity from prosecution and testified against the companies earlier in the trial, including for part of that testimony as a hostile witness. —

Kevin Mccoy, USA TODAY, 17 Nov. 2022 Judge Juan Merchan declined to declare McConney a hostile witness, which would have allowed prosecutors to ask more leading questions. —

Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 1 Nov. 2022 In the clip, Pam returns to the stand, where she's quickly labeled a hostile witness. —

Samantha Highfill, EW.com, 5 Apr. 2022 Attorneys for the plaintiffs, who called Tubbs as a hostile witness, showed the jury a video of Tubbs leading a group of league members and associates into a crowd of counterprotesters. —

BostonGlobe.com, 8 Nov. 2021 Frieden eventually declared the teen a hostile witness and allowed Kennedy to ask leading questions. —

Washington Post, 16 July 2021 The judge declared Menna a hostile witness, allowing Callner to ask leading questions. —

Cara Kelly, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2020 Steve Barnes, two years younger than his partner, was a former Marine officer who could eviscerate a hostile witness in the courtroom and struggled to smile through the firm’s marketing campaigns. —

Sam Roberts, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2020 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hostile witness.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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“Hostile witness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hostile%20witness. Accessed 10 Jun. 2023.

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