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
All defendants maintained their innocence and appealed after a two-year trial that opened a pandora’s box of unwanted revelations about papal ransom payments to Islamic militants, Vatican vendettas, espionage and other dirty laundry of the Holy See.
—
Nicole Winfield, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
The defendant’s father, Chris Sheafe, told the Arizona Family that his son had become obsessed with the Bible and has a large tattoo of a Hebrew word for God on his neck.
—Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 16 Mar. 2026
The defendants were initially identified by their stage names until Atlanta police aided Oakland investigators with their government names.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2026
Now, the appellate court will again weigh in — this time on whether Willis can challenge the defendants' claims for millions in legal reimbursements.
—Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for defendant
Nicole Winfield, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
The defendant’s father, Chris Sheafe, told the Arizona Family that his son had become obsessed with the Bible and has a large tattoo of a Hebrew word for God on his neck.
—Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 16 Mar. 2026
The defendants were initially identified by their stage names until Atlanta police aided Oakland investigators with their government names.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2026
Now, the appellate court will again weigh in — this time on whether Willis can challenge the defendants' claims for millions in legal reimbursements.
—Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for defendant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defendant
Noun
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Holmes qualified for the reduced term under a 2023 rule change allowing first-time offenders to do less time for some non-violent crimes, according to an order issued Thursday by the federal judge who sentenced her in 2022 for defrauding investors in her blood-testing startup.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2026
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And many Democrats see it as an effort to curb more liberal prosecutors who have embraced restorative justice policies, including steering nonviolent offenders away from prison sentences or taking more lax approaches to drug offenses.—
Riley Bunch,
AJC.com,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Cyber criminals linked to Iran have accessed FBI Director Kash Patel's personal email account, sources familiar with the matter told CBS News.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
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That convenience also gives criminals a perfect disguise.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
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With Major Case Unit detectives working other elements of the investigation, Homicide Unit Detective Kyle Sullivan wanted to interview the suspect.—
Emerson Clarridge
Updated March 27,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Mar. 2026
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The suspect offered the family food shortly before driving off.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Lauderhill police said that in self-defense, the mother then stabbed the perpetrator, but even that wasn't enough to subdue her.—
Morgan Rynor,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
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An unknown perpetrator threw several Molotov cocktails at a Russian center in Prague promoting culture and history, Czech police said on Friday.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defendant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defendant. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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