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

Muhammad was implicated by a co-defendant, according to court records. — Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 11 Nov. 2026

Only one defendant sentenced so far To date, the only defendant to be sentenced is Tyler Brown, who served as the union’s chief of staff and as special assistant to Jones. — Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 10 Nov. 2026

The Rosen Law Firm's suit alleges the defendants made false or misleading statements about his affair with Huang and Nvidia's relationship with Megaspeed, thereby presenting a material risk to the company's reputation and business prospects. — April Roach, CNBC, 10 Nov. 2026

Attorneys representing the other defendants named in the case did not immediately respond to a request for comment. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 10 Nov. 2026