Synonyms of defectors

defectors

noun

plural of defector

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

• deserters
• traitors
• rebels
• insurgents
• renegades
• revolutionaries
• apostates
• turncoats
• quislings
• betrayers
• discontents
• mutineers
• leavers
• insurrectionists
• recreants
• dropouts
• revolters
• turnabouts
• refuseniks
• revolutionists
• defiers
• double-crossers
• abandoners
• insurrectionaries
• refusers
• traitresses
• reds
• recusants
• malcontents
• revolutionizers
• come-outers

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• supporters
• followers
• disciples
• adherents
• loyalists
• partisans
• militants
• fanatics
• zealots

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of defectors

Anthropic, founded by OpenAI defectors, is now expected to be the first of the two companies to go public, two people familiar with its plans say, with the IPO as early as September. — Alex Heath, Time, 26 Aug. 2026

The documentary tracks students at the Jangdaehyun School in Busan, South Korea – an institution serving North Korean defectors and their families. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 18 Aug. 2026

But intelligence officials previously told The Associated Press that Russia’s security services are now more brazen in their choice of targets, going after Russian activists and foreign supporters of Ukraine as well as military defectors. — Claudia Ciobanu, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026

But intelligence officials previously told The Associated Press that Russia's security services are now more brazen in their choice of targets, going after Russian activists and foreign supporters of Ukraine as well as military defectors. — CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026

Golf's media establishment mocked defectors as sellouts and eagerly counted down the days until LIV's collapse. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026

Anthropic, whose ranks include many safety-minded defectors from its rival, argues the slower rollout will help society adapt to the powerful new tools. — Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 17 June 2026

Disclosure Day, based on an original story by Spielberg, centers on a decades-long government conspiracy to cover up the existence of alien life, and the group of defectors intent on releasing that intel to the public. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 11 June 2026

Anthropic, the lab founded by its own defectors, confidentially filed this week at a near $1 trillion valuation. — Rory McDonald, Fortune, 6 June 2026