DEFECTOR Synonyms: 43 Similar and Opposite Words

defector

noun

Definition of defector

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

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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 defector 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 Golf's media establishment mocked defectors as sellouts and eagerly counted down the days until LIV's collapse. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026 Note the poster of the defector Mikhail Baryshnikov hawking Crime and Punishment. — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 25 June 2026 Daisy appears to be a Canadian defector hoping for acceptance within Gilead, but she’s actually been recruited as a spy by Moss, who continues her role as June Osborne from The Handmaid’s Tale. — Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 17 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for defector

Noun

And within his own country’s history, particularly, Dhont discovered the fates that met would-be deserters who were caught — brutal sentences often leading to death.

— David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 12 May 2026
The love story of a Confederate deserter (Jude Law) journeying back to his North Carolina home and his love (Nicole Kidman) drives the Civil War drama.

— Brian Truitt, USA Today, 7 Mar. 2026

Definition of deserter

Noun

The team was criticized in Iran and branded as traitors in the media there for remaining silent when the Iranian national anthem was played ahead of their opening loss against South Korea on March 2.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026
However, their time together ended when Tamburello, a faithful, turned on Parks, a traitor, and voted to banish her in episode 10.

— Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of traitor

Noun

Niger’s ruling junta survived its most serious internal challenge since the 2023 coup after renegade soldiers mutinied in Niamey and Russian Africa Corps fighters helped presidential guards retake a key airbase.

— Chinedu Asadu, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
In some ways, there is a strange kind of unity to these three—all are set during the Depression, all feature stylish renegades.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of renegade

Noun

So there is such a powerful underline of her character, this sort of fierce rebel constantly wanting to find out the truth, constantly aware of her surroundings, aware of everything.

— Hunter Ingram, Variety, 4 Sep. 2026
Alongside Garfield’s Ploughman is Cosmo Jarvis as the true historical figure Wat Tyler, Jamie Bell as clergyman John Ball and Thomasin McKenzie as fellow rebel Alyce.

— Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of rebel

Noun

The festival was an impressive feat of planning and production, an execution of vision that may or may not translate into alternative, insurgent thought or actions.

— Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2026
The insecurity landscape is also more chaotic because some groups, after initially being invited to help defend against insurgents, turned into terrorists, said Dengiyefa Angalapu, an analyst at the Center for Democracy and Development in Abuja.

— Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of insurgent

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“Defector.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defector. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of defector

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