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 approach extended to the creative process, with extensive consultation with North Korean experts and defectors throughout production.
—
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 25 Sep. 2025
Two of whom, Seok and Hyuk, gained attention for their emotional story as North Korean defectors-turned-K-pop idols.
—Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Several other exiles in London — oligarchs and defectors — who died under mysterious circumstances in the early 2000s.
—Andy Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
Researchers said the report was based on interviews with defectors and officials around the world, as well as declassified documents, satellite images and open-source information.
—Jennifer Jett, NBC news, 21 Aug. 2025
Local rights for baseball, which would help ESPN limit subscriber defectors, are on Pitaro’s list of keepers.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2025
Putin, a former Russian intelligence officer who has been in power for more than two decades, has a long record of silencing and even allegedly ordering assassinations of his detractors and defectors.
—Elizabeth Crisp, The Hill, 4 June 2025
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 25 Sep. 2025
Two of whom, Seok and Hyuk, gained attention for their emotional story as North Korean defectors-turned-K-pop idols.
—Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Several other exiles in London — oligarchs and defectors — who died under mysterious circumstances in the early 2000s.
—Andy Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
Researchers said the report was based on interviews with defectors and officials around the world, as well as declassified documents, satellite images and open-source information.
—Jennifer Jett, NBC news, 21 Aug. 2025
Local rights for baseball, which would help ESPN limit subscriber defectors, are on Pitaro’s list of keepers.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2025
Putin, a former Russian intelligence officer who has been in power for more than two decades, has a long record of silencing and even allegedly ordering assassinations of his detractors and defectors.
—Elizabeth Crisp, The Hill, 4 June 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defector
Noun
-
Language purists like to remind anyone who will listen that decimation actually means the slaughter of one in ten people, and was the military punishment wielded by the Roman army against deserters and mutineers.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Oct. 2025
-
In 1945, three men — two Jewish refugees living in Brooklyn and one Nazi deserter — enlisted in the Office of Strategic Services, a precursor to the Central Intelligence Agency in the United States.—
Lauren Liebhaber,
Miami Herald,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The high-concept social experiment show, in which a group of strangers work together to uncover the traitors, sorry, werewolves, amongst them, was a breakout hit on Canal+ in France and has already been adapted for ARD’s online service in Germany.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Oct. 2025
-
If Brian doesn't answer, he will be labeled a traitor.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
For years, Hollywood content creators have warned about piracy, whether through bootleg VHS tapes, or BitTorrent, or renegade streaming providers.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Skarsgård has long been a red carpet renegade, showing flashes of that playful freak that lives within.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Hegseth likened the Colombian rebel group to the Al Qaeda terror group founded by Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
19 Oct. 2025
-
The Moscow meeting was remarkable given that Russia is harboring Syria’s former president, Bashar al-Assad, whose government was overthrown by rebels led by al-Sharaa.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The best challenger brands think like cultural insurgents.—
Erik Huberman,
Rolling Stone,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Islamist insurgents have since May attacked Malian and foreign-owned businesses, including cement factories, sugar factories, and mines.—
Preeti Jha,
semafor.com,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defector.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defector. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share