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
Most of the defendants are of Somali descent.
—
Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Stainton repeatedly questioned why Ryan believes Horner’s story about the cocaine when the defendant lied about other things.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2026
Musk and the OpenAI defendants will each be afforded 22 hours to present their case during the liability phase, Gonzalez Rogers said in a court filing earlier this month.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 28 Apr. 2026
In the end, attorneys and defendants try to carefully consider the benefits and risks of putting a defendant on the stand.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for defendant
Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Stainton repeatedly questioned why Ryan believes Horner’s story about the cocaine when the defendant lied about other things.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2026
Musk and the OpenAI defendants will each be afforded 22 hours to present their case during the liability phase, Gonzalez Rogers said in a court filing earlier this month.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 28 Apr. 2026
In the end, attorneys and defendants try to carefully consider the benefits and risks of putting a defendant on the stand.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for defendant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defendant
Noun
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Surveying their home after the offenders had fled, Victim A told police that three Rolex watches and their work laptop were missing.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
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Eriana Haynes received 41 months in prison after pleading guilty to aiding an offender.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
Noun
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Lamont and other Democrats said the raises were well deserved because the state needs to recruit workers for difficult jobs that include prison guards dealing with dangerous criminals and social workers dealing with troubled families in the state Department of Children and Families.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
2 May 2026
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Even before his arrest, there were signs that the Emirates was becoming less tolerant toward major criminals.—
Ed Caesar,
New Yorker,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Police could not immediately describe the third suspect.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
2 May 2026
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Investigators said the argument escalated into a physical fight when the female suspect began swinging and striking the victim in the chest and head and then pulling her hair.—
Alexa Ashwell,
Baltimore Sun,
1 May 2026
Noun
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Authorities were investigating the incident but did not elaborate on the perpetrator.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
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Though his defense argued that there was no evidence tying Faust to the crime scene — and that Melton was the real perpetrator — he was found guilty on 12 charges for Baker's rape and murder.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defendant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defendant. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
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