Synonyms of defendant

defendant

noun

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.

Related Words

• offender
• criminal
• accused
• suspect
• perpetrator
• culprit
• convict
• arrestee
• accomplice
• detainee
• fish
• principal
• misdemeanant
• lawbreaker
• malefactor
• crook
• wrongdoer
• trespasser
• perp
• miscreant
• outlaw
• desperado
• jailbird
• villain
• sinner
• transgressor
• gangster
• racketeer
• mobster
• thug
• hoodlum
• triggerman
• recidivist
• gun
• hooligan
• misfeasor
• gallows bird
• button man
• gunman
• misdoer
• gunsel
• hit man
• blackhander
• evildoer
• enforcer
• backslider
• repeater
• relapser

Dissimilar Words

• lawman
• gangbuster

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of defendant

Dylan’s attorney, Kerry Garvis Wright, countered by saying a non-settling defendant such as Scott is only entitled to an offset for settlement of economic damages. — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Paxton wasn't a defendant in the suit, but as the company's former attorney, he was deposed in 2019 and in 2022. — Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird and Montana AG Austin Knudsen filed a motion with the Supreme Court seeking to have the antitrust suit thrown out, naming California and the 11 other states party to the Paramount lawsuit as defendants. — Todd Spangler, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026

Another defendant, Heather Bergdahl, a former Loretto executive and close friend of Ahmed’s, had been charged with helping to carry out the scheme. — Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026