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
In Connecticut, in asylum cases from Fiscal Year 2001 through May 2025, more than 37% of asylum decisions — involving people who are seeking relief from deportation because of conditions in their home country — were granted on their merits when defendants had legal representation.
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Renata Daou, Hartford Courant, 30 June 2025
Every defendant deserves a rigorous defense — this is a bedrock democratic principle.
—Liz Roberts, New York Daily News, 30 June 2025
The lawsuit also names as defendants Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, the Los Angeles City Council and Marqueece Harris-Dawson, president of the council.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 30 June 2025
After five weeks of dramatic testimony, all three defendants were acquitted.
—Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for defendant
Renata Daou, Hartford Courant, 30 June 2025
Every defendant deserves a rigorous defense — this is a bedrock democratic principle.
—Liz Roberts, New York Daily News, 30 June 2025
The lawsuit also names as defendants Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, the Los Angeles City Council and Marqueece Harris-Dawson, president of the council.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 30 June 2025
After five weeks of dramatic testimony, all three defendants were acquitted.
—Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for defendant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defendant
Noun
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But with this bill, Republicans are laying the groundwork to gut safeguards that stopped criminals from getting these deadly weapons.—
Khaleda Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 July 2025
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Recently, however, the technology has been used by criminals for purposes of sextortion.—
Steve Weisman,
Forbes.com,
5 July 2025
Noun
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Maryland State Police arrested two suspects Sunday after a Frederick County shooting on I-70 killed a man and injured two others.—
Racquel Bazos,
Baltimore Sun,
1 July 2025
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The Chelan County Sheriff's Office said in a press release on Tuesday that traces of blood found on the tailgate of Decker's truck belong to the missing father, ruling out additional suspects.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
1 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defendant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defendant. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
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