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 Although Fang was charged in a single incident, authorities allege the defendant was responsible for a string of hateful messages found across the Northern California campus. — Seamus Bozeman, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026 The court always allows the families of crime victims to speak in court before defendants are sentenced. — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2026 The lawsuit also named current Venezuelan Interim President Delcy Rodríguez, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López, Attorney General Tarek William Saab and the state oil company PDVSA as defendants. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026 Cooper also took aim at California’s mental health diversion program, which allows eligible defendants to receive treatment instead of traditional criminal penalties. — Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 13 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for defendant

Recent Examples of Synonyms for defendant

Noun

Numerous programs are being implemented to attempt to reduce the probability of recidivism through education and counseling and to reintegrate offenders into society.

— Ronald J. Allen, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2026
Ireland has approved landmark legislation to create the country’s first public register of domestic violence offenders, in a move campaigners say will empower people to check whether a potential partner has a history of violence.

— Kara Fox, CNN Money, 17 July 2026

Definition of offender

Noun

California has some of the nation’s toughest gun laws, but state lawmakers are concerned that a new technology is allowing criminals to obtain firearms by building them from scratch.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2026
This lengthy process was typical of ICE’s previous procedures to track down criminals, Sandweg said, which may have shifted under the demands of this administration’s daily arrest goals.

— Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 18 July 2026

Definition of criminal

Noun

The trial judge has the discretion to determine if publication is warranted based on the specifics of the case, and the perpetrator’s name will only be published if the victim gives consent.

— Kara Fox, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
The center also noted that about 68% of mass shooting cases that occurred from 2014 to 2019 included a perpetrator who either killed family or intimate partners, or had a history of domestic violence.

— Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 14 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 21 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of defendant

noun

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