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
But that comes at a cost to the defendant, and it’s been said that the process itself is the punishment.
—
John E. Jones Iii, The Conversation, 11 Feb. 2026
Two other defendants, TikTok and Snap, have settled the case.
—Kaitlyn Huamani, Fortune, 11 Feb. 2026
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz indicated the Razmias alias may be the defendant’s true identity, with Stoian being an assumed name.
—Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2026
Two other defendants, TikTok and Snap, settled out of court.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for defendant
John E. Jones Iii, The Conversation, 11 Feb. 2026
Two other defendants, TikTok and Snap, have settled the case.
—Kaitlyn Huamani, Fortune, 11 Feb. 2026
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz indicated the Razmias alias may be the defendant’s true identity, with Stoian being an assumed name.
—Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2026
Two other defendants, TikTok and Snap, settled out of court.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for defendant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defendant
Noun
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Cowley wants to champion policies that attack the root causes of violence while holding offenders accountable, according to her campaign website.—
Olivia Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
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My key priorities include prosecuting violent offenders, gangs, traffickers, fentanyl dealers, and cartels; supporting local law enforcement; pursuing lawsuits to defend Texas; and aggressively investigating and prosecuting fraud.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Violence is widespread in the city proper, with large encampments where meth and other drugs are readily available and criminals reportedly exploit the city’s free bus system to carry out offenses.—
Michael Ruiz , Adriana James-Rodil,
FOXNews.com,
13 Feb. 2026
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Godwin is well known in the space, having assisted law enforcement nationwide leading to the removal of hundreds of criminals from the streets.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The biggest break in the case came earlier this week, when chilling video from her porch was recovered and showed a suspect approaching her home during the window when authorities say she was likely taken.—
Liz Kreutz,
NBC news,
13 Feb. 2026
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However, police in Minnesota can issue a citation that directly charges a suspect, typically with a low-level crime, absent a formal criminal complaint returned from city or county prosecutors.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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In any kidnapping case, paying a ransom does not guarantee a victim's return or that there will be an opportunity to catch the perpetrator.—
Chris Kenning,
USA Today,
8 Feb. 2026
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The Russian figure attempted to wrest the weapon away and was shot again in the chest before the perpetrator fled, the report noted, according to the AP.—
Alex Nitzberg,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defendant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defendant. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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