as in offenders
a person who has committed a crime
car thieves, pickpockets, burglars, and other criminals
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Recent Examples of criminals
The trio has a surprisingly good theory about the implosion of the makeshift Astral Pulse; seems like Shroud never found the original, and someone has been outfitting low-level criminals with bootlegs that are going awry like Robert’s.
—
Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 7 Nov. 2025
With spoofing tools, criminals can mimic real bank phone numbers and even use AI to reproduce familiar voices.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2025
The testimony law barring Black people from testifying against white people meant white criminals could, and did, rob and assault Black people with impunity.
—Equal Justice Initiative, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
The facility was upgraded to a maximum-security prison and began housing some of the state's most hardened criminals, including those transferred from other facilities.
—Kristine Phillips, IndyStar, 4 Nov. 2025
Beccuau said the suspects charged so far appear to be petty criminals and blue-collar workers from northern Paris suburbs.
—ABC News, 3 Nov. 2025
The audacious daytime robbery of historical jewels worth $102 million from the Paris Louvre museum last month was executed by petty criminals, rather than professionals from the world of organised crime, the Paris prosecutor said on Sunday.
—Reuters, NBC news, 2 Nov. 2025
To suggest that another candidate’s supporters are criminals — particularly when that candidate is, by all measures, poised to win at least a plurality of votes in the city — does not seem like a recipe for earning New Yorkers’ support.
—New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Binance also lacked protocols — standard for financial services companies — to report transactions for money laundering risks, according to the Justice Department, and employees were well aware that such an oversight would invite criminals to the platform.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 7 Nov. 2025
With spoofing tools, criminals can mimic real bank phone numbers and even use AI to reproduce familiar voices.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2025
The testimony law barring Black people from testifying against white people meant white criminals could, and did, rob and assault Black people with impunity.
—Equal Justice Initiative, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
The facility was upgraded to a maximum-security prison and began housing some of the state's most hardened criminals, including those transferred from other facilities.
—Kristine Phillips, IndyStar, 4 Nov. 2025
Beccuau said the suspects charged so far appear to be petty criminals and blue-collar workers from northern Paris suburbs.
—ABC News, 3 Nov. 2025
The audacious daytime robbery of historical jewels worth $102 million from the Paris Louvre museum last month was executed by petty criminals, rather than professionals from the world of organised crime, the Paris prosecutor said on Sunday.
—Reuters, NBC news, 2 Nov. 2025
To suggest that another candidate’s supporters are criminals — particularly when that candidate is, by all measures, poised to win at least a plurality of votes in the city — does not seem like a recipe for earning New Yorkers’ support.
—New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Binance also lacked protocols — standard for financial services companies — to report transactions for money laundering risks, according to the Justice Department, and employees were well aware that such an oversight would invite criminals to the platform.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for criminals
offenders
Noun
-
The laws expand on prior legislation by increasing penalties for offenders and allowing vehicles to be towed for reckless driving.—
Drake Bentley,
jsonline.com,
5 Nov. 2025
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Police Chief Johnny Jennings decried repeat criminal offenders and said Mecklenburg County again needs a detention facility for teenagers during a lunch in south Charlotte on Tuesday.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Criminals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/criminals. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
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