DEFENDANT Synonyms: 50 Similar and Opposite Words

defendant

noun

Definition of defendant

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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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 defendant Unlike his co-defendants, Abbatiello was initially denied bail, and he has since been held at the Centre County Correctional Facility in Bellefonte. — Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 2 Sep. 2026 The complaint names Clark and Johanna Morgan and South Chicago Chapel as defendants, alongside the facility’s owner and contract buyer. — Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026 Not guilty pleas were entered on the defendant's behalf following the judge's ruling. — Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026 The defendant and his attorney, Michael Sanft, wrap arms around one another, whispering a few final thoughts before the moment of judgment. — Jeff Weiss, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for defendant

Recent Examples of Synonyms for defendant

Noun

At the same hearing, a fifth defendant, Subhan Ahmed, 18, pleaded not guilty to a charge of assisting an offender.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Hisbah members also face widespread allegations of rights abuses in their enforcement operations, including subjecting offenders to dehumanizing punishments such as public beatings or shaming.

— ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of offender

Noun

Two people were stabbed, one fatally, near Times Square on Monday afternoon, with responding authorities shooting and killing the female suspect, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said.

— Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 1 Sep. 2026
Anderson, who long had been considered a suspect in Shakur’s killing, denied involvement before his death in an unrelated Compton shooting in 1998 at age 23.

— Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of suspect

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defendable

defendant

defendants

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“Defendant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defendant. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of defendant

noun

Example Sentences

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