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 defendant faces up to seven years in prison if convicted on the top count.
—
Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
Judge Julius Hoffman, however, sentenced all seven defendants and two defense lawyers to contempt-of-court jail sentences.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
The defendants, dressed in black and wearing masks, arrived that night and began shooting off and throwing fireworks at the immigration detention facility, officials say.
—Kevin Krause, Dallas Morning News, 18 Feb. 2026
Unlike in a typical civil trial, jurors were not tasked with deciding how much money the defendant must pay.
—Justin Wingerter, Denver Post, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for defendant
Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
Judge Julius Hoffman, however, sentenced all seven defendants and two defense lawyers to contempt-of-court jail sentences.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
The defendants, dressed in black and wearing masks, arrived that night and began shooting off and throwing fireworks at the immigration detention facility, officials say.
—Kevin Krause, Dallas Morning News, 18 Feb. 2026
Unlike in a typical civil trial, jurors were not tasked with deciding how much money the defendant must pay.
—Justin Wingerter, Denver Post, 18 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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It’s mentioned later that the perpetrator was a rapist.—
Kathleen Newman-Bremang,
Refinery29,
12 Feb. 2026
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The Federal Bureau of Investigation analyzed home security footage from the morning Nancy Guthrie disappeared, releasing new identifying details of the potential perpetrator while also increasing the reward for information.—
Sarah Lapidus,
AZCentral.com,
12 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defendant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defendant. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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