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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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
The film explores the iconic partnership between Fonteyn, a 42-year-old prima ballerina and Britain’s most famous dancer, and Rudolf Nureyev, the 23-year-old rebellious Soviet defector who became her partner on stage (and, it was rumored, off it as well).
—
Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2026
Nureyev is 23, a rebellious Soviet defector — magnetic, explosive, unstoppable.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 22 Apr. 2026
South Korean officials confirmed details of Kim’s defection, and his descriptions of hardships faced by North Koreans mirror numerous accounts defectors shared with CNN.
—Mike Valerio, CNN Money, 19 Apr. 2026
Evangelicals have mostly stuck by Trump, even with prominent defectors such as Southern Baptist leader Russell Moore and New York Times columnist David French railing against widespread Christian support for the president, given his personal life and tendency to make incendiary statements.
—W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 19 Apr. 2026
One of those defectors referenced Carney’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in his decision.
—Rob Gillies, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
One of those defectors referenced Carney’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, as helping in his decision.
—ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
Patrick Reed, the LIV defector/PGA returnee who’s two shots off the lead after a three-under 69 yesterday.
—Chris Branch, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Bailey stars as Anna, a Manhattanite culinary school defector.
—Alexandra Jhamb Burns, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Apr. 2026
Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2026
Nureyev is 23, a rebellious Soviet defector — magnetic, explosive, unstoppable.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 22 Apr. 2026
South Korean officials confirmed details of Kim’s defection, and his descriptions of hardships faced by North Koreans mirror numerous accounts defectors shared with CNN.
—Mike Valerio, CNN Money, 19 Apr. 2026
Evangelicals have mostly stuck by Trump, even with prominent defectors such as Southern Baptist leader Russell Moore and New York Times columnist David French railing against widespread Christian support for the president, given his personal life and tendency to make incendiary statements.
—W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 19 Apr. 2026
One of those defectors referenced Carney’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in his decision.
—Rob Gillies, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
One of those defectors referenced Carney’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, as helping in his decision.
—ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
Patrick Reed, the LIV defector/PGA returnee who’s two shots off the lead after a three-under 69 yesterday.
—Chris Branch, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Bailey stars as Anna, a Manhattanite culinary school defector.
—Alexandra Jhamb Burns, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defector
Noun
-
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
-
During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln pardoned many Union deserters; after it, Andrew Johnson blanket pardoned nearly all Confederate soldiers.—
Willem Marx,
Vanity Fair,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
As the castle’s internal order collapses under the weight of a string of baffling crimes, Araki strikes a fragile alliance with Kuroda Kanbei – a razor-minded captive languishing in his own dungeon – in a race to root out a traitor before Oda’s army closes in.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
14 Apr. 2026
-
In the context of his time, Jesus was considered a traitor — an enemy of the Roman Empire.—
Michael J Christensen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
To distinguish itself from all the other renegade action shows out there, showrunner Kyle Killen echoes his project’s cinematic predecessor, albeit with hollow results.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The film stars renegade country singer Elizabeth Cook as a fictionalized version of herself, portraying an artist navigating midlife while contending with an industry that has never fully embraced her.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Its leaders have been working to rebuild relations with Arab and Western countries that had shunned Syria under former President Bashar Assad, who was ousted in December 2024 by rebels, who then installed a new government.—
Abby Sewell,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
-
As the years tick by, the lips become a bit of a rebel.—
Micaela English,
Glamour,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Kidal's capture in a similar militant-insurgent alliance over a decade ago was at the root of the security crisis that has shaken Mali.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Mali has faced years of escalating insurgent violence; the ruling military junta, which pledged to restore stability in a 2020 coup, turned to Russia for assistance in its counterinsurgency campaign.—
Lauren Morganbesser,
semafor.com,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defector.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defector. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
