as in offender
a person who is being sued or accused of a crime in a court of law
The jury believed that the defendant was guilty.
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Recent Examples of defendant
The church itself is not named as a defendant, though several of its bishops are accused in the suit.
—
Scott Zamost,paige Tortorelli, CNBC, 20 May 2026
Five other people are also named as defendants in the case.
—Drew Pittock, USA Today, 20 May 2026
The indictment followed a 2022 report from the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) circulated by two of the CMIC executive defendants in efforts to conceal the scheme.
—Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 20 May 2026
The indictment also names five other defendants identified as Cuban fighter pilots, including one who had previously been charged in the case more than two decades ago.
—Sergio Candido, CBS News, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for defendant
Scott Zamost,paige Tortorelli, CNBC, 20 May 2026
Five other people are also named as defendants in the case.
—Drew Pittock, USA Today, 20 May 2026
The indictment followed a 2022 report from the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) circulated by two of the CMIC executive defendants in efforts to conceal the scheme.
—Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 20 May 2026
The indictment also names five other defendants identified as Cuban fighter pilots, including one who had previously been charged in the case more than two decades ago.
—Sergio Candido, CBS News, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for defendant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defendant
Noun
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Locations are chosen based on impaired-driving crashes, and first-time DUI offenders face average fines and penalties of $13,500.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
15 May 2026
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The governor had publicly questioned whether Peters’ nine-year sentence was too hard for a first-time, nonviolent offender.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
15 May 2026
Noun
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When unhoused people are treated as criminals, they are pushed into an identity of exclusion rather than belonging.—
Shianne LeClaire,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
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Set in Gaza in 2007, and following the misadventures of a student (Nader Abd Alhay) and restaurant owner and petty criminal (Majd Eid), the picture premiered in Un Certain Regard last year and won the Best Director prize.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
16 May 2026
Noun
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Elsewhere in the latest episode, thanks to Sean's quick thinking, the BPD and superintendent Sarah Silver (Maggie Lawson) are able to track down those responsible for Lena's shooting and arrest a suspect.—
Brenton Blanchet,
PEOPLE,
23 May 2026
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The second suspect was said to be wearing an army green baseball cap, camo jacket and army green camo cargo pants.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
22 May 2026
Noun
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The platform can employ a fragmentation or a perpetrator warheads (for anti-armor roles).—
Aditya Jadhav,
Interesting Engineering,
18 May 2026
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Maui Mayor Richard Bissen meanwhile vowed to see the perpetrator prosecuted and said such visitors are not welcome there.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defendant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defendant. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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