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
Drawing at least in part on information from Chalker’s defectors, the Pentagon constructed life-size underground facsimiles of Iranian nuclear facilities where the scientists had worked, attempting to duplicate even the thickness of the walls.
—
David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Parties have mostly voted in blocks on major issues in recent years, with small numbers of defectors increasingly rare.
—Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 27 Mar. 2026
Mirrors were such a precious commodity in the heyday of the Venetian Republic that the assassins were dispatched to, well, dispatch any defectors who left La Serenissima and tried to take the secrets of creating that mesmerizing, reflective surface along with them.
—Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 17 Mar. 2026
Some regimes were and are particularly brutal towards defectors, not least Hungary in the 1940s.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
In 2023, the island even began to allow defectors to represent the national team in the World Baseball Classic.
—Tyler Carmona, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2026
Another pattern to watch is that of defectors from the IRGC.
—Felice Friedson, New York Daily News, 10 Mar. 2026
The documentary focuses on the Jangdaehyun School in Busan where the small student body – only 20 kids – are all defectors.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 8 Mar. 2026
And with members' own reelection hopes beginning to clash with some politically unpopular policies coming from the White House, the number of Republican defectors could grow as the midterm elections approach.
—CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Parties have mostly voted in blocks on major issues in recent years, with small numbers of defectors increasingly rare.
—Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 27 Mar. 2026
Mirrors were such a precious commodity in the heyday of the Venetian Republic that the assassins were dispatched to, well, dispatch any defectors who left La Serenissima and tried to take the secrets of creating that mesmerizing, reflective surface along with them.
—Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 17 Mar. 2026
Some regimes were and are particularly brutal towards defectors, not least Hungary in the 1940s.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
In 2023, the island even began to allow defectors to represent the national team in the World Baseball Classic.
—Tyler Carmona, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2026
Another pattern to watch is that of defectors from the IRGC.
—Felice Friedson, New York Daily News, 10 Mar. 2026
The documentary focuses on the Jangdaehyun School in Busan where the small student body – only 20 kids – are all defectors.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 8 Mar. 2026
And with members' own reelection hopes beginning to clash with some politically unpopular policies coming from the White House, the number of Republican defectors could grow as the midterm elections approach.
—CBS News, 25 Feb. 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
-
This notably happened during the Civil War with enlistment bounties to track down deserters.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
It’s populated by craven, cowardly traitors.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In an op-ed for Nikkei, a former lawmaker and one-time spokesperson for the previous Taiwanese president warned that the island — which China claims as a renegade province — was not doing enough to strengthen its energy independence and defense capabilities in the face of mainland pressure.—
Prashant Rao,
semafor.com,
6 Apr. 2026
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Not all marketing The renegade spirit isn't all clever marketing.—
Chloe Veltman,
NPR,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Daisy is a young rebel, ready to fight viciously for the end of Gilead.—
Yvonne Villarreal,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
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The series emphasizes hope and the power of collective action, providing a nuanced look at both the rebels and the individuals within the Empire, ultimately highlighting the enduring relevance of its themes of oppression and resistance in today’s world.—
Hilary Lewis,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This long list of accomplishments doesn’t even mention her work with the Raconteurs, her co-writes with Guy fuckin’ Clark, or that one of her records (2013’s Like a Rose) is a stone-cold classic of 2010s insurgent country.—
Stephen M. Deusner,
Pitchfork,
7 Apr. 2026
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While serving a tour of duty outside the province of Kandahar in Afghanistan in August of 2011, he was ambushed by Taliban insurgents disguised in Afghan National Army uniforms.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defector.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defector. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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