as in deserters
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 defectors
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
Among the defectors, only two started games for the Canes in 2025.
—Sam Khan Jr, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
At the time, the president vowed to back primary challengers to the Republican defectors.
—Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 27 Jan. 2026
Laughter, gasps and applause are not uncommon, according to defectors and foreign visitors who have attended such events.
—Will Ripley, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026
High-profile defectors, including Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Sergio Garcia, are in the twilight of their careers and unlikely to return.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Jan. 2026
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
CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
Among the defectors, only two started games for the Canes in 2025.
—Sam Khan Jr, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
At the time, the president vowed to back primary challengers to the Republican defectors.
—Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 27 Jan. 2026
Laughter, gasps and applause are not uncommon, according to defectors and foreign visitors who have attended such events.
—Will Ripley, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026
High-profile defectors, including Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Sergio Garcia, are in the twilight of their careers and unlikely to return.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Jan. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defectors
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
-
More important, though, is the fact that the judge who posited that hordes of deserters could follow Vovchenko’s example seems to be overstepping his role.—
Air Mail,
Air Mail,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
McCarthy’s rampage was about rooting out traitors.—
Ali Breland,
The Atlantic,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Faithfuls also have chances to banish traitors by voting them out of the castle during a nightly event called the roundtable.—
Tiney Ricciardi,
Denver Post,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The choice was hailed by the president of Azerbaijan and the leader of Yemen’s Houthi rebels, among other allies.—
Kevin Rector,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Yet plantation records indicate that women helped supply food and clothing to rebels.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
That kind of chaos could easily spill over Iran’s borders, and not just by land; the Persian Gulf is narrow, and would not pose much of an obstacle to terrorists or insurgents who cross it in speedboats.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Paxton will counter that Texas runoffs often reward insurgents.—
Gromer Jeffers Jr,
Dallas Morning News,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But in order to remain a meaningful platform for creative renegades, the festival needs to also take risks.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
-
But a few renegades creatively defected across the pond, looking instead at America for inspiration.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
23 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defectors.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defectors. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
