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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Example Sentences

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 Both the defendants and courts fumed at this because, while attorney-client privilege survives death, this death killed the power of Boca Raton’s Lee Sarkin and Ocean Ridge’s Drew Levitt to act on their client’s behalf. — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 8 July 2026 Sprüth Magers, which is not a defendant in the lawsuit, declined to comment, noting that the lawsuit was still pending. — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 8 July 2026 Federal authorities charged 37 defendants and arrested 24 — 11 in California, including one in Sacramento. — Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 8 July 2026 The defendants will also pay $150,000 for Johnson’s attorney’s fees. — Brieanna J. Frank, USA Today, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for defendant

Recent Examples of Synonyms for defendant

Noun

Independence Day celebrations come in the most challenging threat environment since 9/11, with the ongoing terror threat, a rise in political violence and continuing fears about lone-wolf offenders, according to Raia.

— Luke Barr, ABC News, 3 July 2026
There were also concerns listed in the analysis that the registry, which dates back to 1947, could include LGBTQ+ offenders from decades ago who were convicted of offenses that are no longer crimes.

— Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026

Definition of offender

Noun

Data that appears to be compliance information to a regulator can appear to be a target list to a criminal.

— Susie Violet Ward, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
The Colorado attorney general oversees more than 700 attorneys and staff and manages legal manners spanning consumer protection, civil rights, criminal, water, constitutional and environmental law.

— Jesse Sarles, CBS News, 1 July 2026

Definition of criminal

Noun

Many times there is some evidence that points to a suspect, but just not enough evidence to move forward.

— Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 8 July 2026
The phone number was associated with a second suspect, who attended the same high school as Bordley in 2023, according to the court document.

— Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 7 July 2026

Definition of suspect

Noun

The sophistication of the bomb used indicates that more than one perpetrator was involved, prosecutors said, adding that two men were arrested in Monaco before being released due to lack of evidence.

— Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 3 July 2026
In April, Florida’s attorney general opened a criminal investigation into the alleged perpetrator’s interactions with ChatGPT before the 2025 mass shooting at Florida State University.

— Ryan McBain, STAT, 2 July 2026

Definition of perpetrator

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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 12 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of defendant

noun

Example Sentences

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