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, 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

Heck, our homegrown liberal media and the city of San Francisco even celebrated Olympic defectors like Eileen Gu, who was paid by the Chinese Communist Party to compete for them in the 2026 Winter Olympics. — Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 7 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

While that's a steep legislative hill, a sizeable group of Republican senators has openly complained about the fund, leaving open the possibility that Democrats could lure across the aisle an embarrassing number of GOP defectors. — Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 3 June 2026

The officials said Russia’s security services are now more brazen in their choice of targets, going after Russian activists and foreign supporters of Ukraine, in addition to the usual suspects like military defectors. — Emma Burrows, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026

The entire family of defectors gathered a year later to celebrate her first birthday in a bright banquet hall in Seoul. — Mike Valerio, CNN Money, 19 Apr. 2026

Evangelicals have mostly stuck by Trump, even with prominent defectors such as Southern Baptist leader Russell Moore and New York Times columnist David French railing against widespread Christian support for the president, given his personal life and tendency to make incendiary statements. — W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 19 Apr. 2026