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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Recent Examples of defector
Generally, the defectors don’t go far.
—
Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Netanyahu’s efforts to bolster his message and lure defectors back to the pro-Israel cause extend beyond Bible study.
—Andrew Cockburn, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Discharge petitions require the backing of a simple majority of House members, or 218 signatories; in addition to the Republican defectors, twelve Democrats have so far signed Fitzpatrick’s petition, and 28 have signed Gottheimer and Kiggans’.
—Solcyré Burga, Time, 12 Dec. 2025
On Sunday, journalist Lesley Stahl sat down with right-wing firebrand and recent congressional defector Marjorie Taylor Greene for a 60 Minutes interview that has already racked up nearly 1 million views on YouTube.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Dec. 2025
Due to a lack of state funds, however, these have failed to materialize, forcing many seniors still able to work to join the country's informal markets, according to accounts by North Korean defectors to the South.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Nov. 2025
The eight Democratic Senate Caucus defectors who joined Republicans to reopen the government are facing widespread criticism from within their party for supporting a deal that does not guarantee the extension of expiring health care subsidies.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 10 Nov. 2025
Critics were quick to accuse the Democratic defectors of folding despite holding an arguably strong position on the shutdown.
—Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 10 Nov. 2025
According to Rensch, Kamp took it upon himself to make sure that the boy received special chess training – including hiring the former Soviet defector, Igor Ivanov – and providing funds and transport so Rensch could travel to tournaments around Arizona and the country to test his skills.
—Ben Morse, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Netanyahu’s efforts to bolster his message and lure defectors back to the pro-Israel cause extend beyond Bible study.
—Andrew Cockburn, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Discharge petitions require the backing of a simple majority of House members, or 218 signatories; in addition to the Republican defectors, twelve Democrats have so far signed Fitzpatrick’s petition, and 28 have signed Gottheimer and Kiggans’.
—Solcyré Burga, Time, 12 Dec. 2025
On Sunday, journalist Lesley Stahl sat down with right-wing firebrand and recent congressional defector Marjorie Taylor Greene for a 60 Minutes interview that has already racked up nearly 1 million views on YouTube.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Dec. 2025
Due to a lack of state funds, however, these have failed to materialize, forcing many seniors still able to work to join the country's informal markets, according to accounts by North Korean defectors to the South.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Nov. 2025
The eight Democratic Senate Caucus defectors who joined Republicans to reopen the government are facing widespread criticism from within their party for supporting a deal that does not guarantee the extension of expiring health care subsidies.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 10 Nov. 2025
Critics were quick to accuse the Democratic defectors of folding despite holding an arguably strong position on the shutdown.
—Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 10 Nov. 2025
According to Rensch, Kamp took it upon himself to make sure that the boy received special chess training – including hiring the former Soviet defector, Igor Ivanov – and providing funds and transport so Rensch could travel to tournaments around Arizona and the country to test his skills.
—Ben Morse, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defector
Noun
-
Harry Truman granted amnesty to certain World War II deserters, while Jimmy Carter granted pardons to hundreds of thousands of individuals who dodged the draft during the Vietnam War.—
Stewart Ulrich,
The Conversation,
15 Dec. 2025
-
After a British deserter mistakenly gains immortality during the American Revolution, he is forced to face his cowardly past and fight against a sinister plot to destroy America.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
14 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Hemphill spoke alongside former Capitol police officer Winston Pingeon, who described being punched in the face, pepper sprayed, and called a traitor by the rioters.—
Aidan McLaughlin,
Vanity Fair,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The J6ers were not insurrectionists, traitors, and miscreants but patriots, heroes, and innocents.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Brooks Koepka’s decision to leave LIV Golf years after becoming one of the notable faces to join the renegade league sent shock waves through the sport this week.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
27 Dec. 2025
-
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said last month that a Chinese attack on Taiwan — which Beijing claims as a renegade province — could spark a military response from Tokyo, leading to the countries’ worst diplomatic crisis in years.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
9 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The London punk rebels seized the revolutionary spirit of 1977 with their raw manifesto The Clash, then refined their sound with the flawed Give ‘Em Enough Rope.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Meanwhile, over in Britain, a vibrant antiwar movement brought on motion after motion in Parliament to cease fire and end all offensive operations against the rebels.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
While many are now driven primarily by economic interests, a subset retains insurgent, ant-imperialist commitments.—
Rebecca Hanson,
The Conversation,
6 Jan. 2026
-
That could mean tightening sanctions on remaining power brokers, expanding strikes against security installations and militias, covertly supporting insurgent factions, and using Maduro’s prospective trial as a global stage on which to delegitimize Chavismo once and for all.—
Robert Muggah,
Fortune,
5 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defector.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defector. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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