as in offenders
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
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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 defendants
All the defendants denied the allegations.
—
Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2025
The money was not invested as promised and was instead used to make interest payments to previous investors, pay business expenses and on the defendants, the indictment alleges.
—City News Service, Oc Register, 16 Oct. 2025
Rivera, a former gang leader of the Latin Kings, is serving 19 years after testifying against his co-defendants.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2025
The judge stressed that the defendants should be rehabilitated rather than punished for their crime.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 15 Oct. 2025
Attorneys for the government further argued that agencies were making decisions to lay off employees in accordance with proper procedures, noting that 26 agencies named as defendants in the lawsuit had yet to announce RIFs.
—Andrea Hsu, NPR, 15 Oct. 2025
The two defendants can appeal their sentences to a higher court.
—CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Hogan’s request for a continuance to amend her complaint to add more defendants, like the Town of Los Gatos or the Los Gatos Recreation Department, was denied.
—Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 14 Oct. 2025
Most defendants received sentences of less than 15 years in prison, even in cases involving multiple fatalities or high blood alcohol levels.
—Amy Yurkanin, ProPublica, 9 Oct. 2025
Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2025
The money was not invested as promised and was instead used to make interest payments to previous investors, pay business expenses and on the defendants, the indictment alleges.
—City News Service, Oc Register, 16 Oct. 2025
Rivera, a former gang leader of the Latin Kings, is serving 19 years after testifying against his co-defendants.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2025
The judge stressed that the defendants should be rehabilitated rather than punished for their crime.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 15 Oct. 2025
Attorneys for the government further argued that agencies were making decisions to lay off employees in accordance with proper procedures, noting that 26 agencies named as defendants in the lawsuit had yet to announce RIFs.
—Andrea Hsu, NPR, 15 Oct. 2025
The two defendants can appeal their sentences to a higher court.
—CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Hogan’s request for a continuance to amend her complaint to add more defendants, like the Town of Los Gatos or the Los Gatos Recreation Department, was denied.
—Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 14 Oct. 2025
Most defendants received sentences of less than 15 years in prison, even in cases involving multiple fatalities or high blood alcohol levels.
—Amy Yurkanin, ProPublica, 9 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defendants
Noun
-
Deferred prosecution programs are designed for individuals who have committed less serious offenses, often first-time offenders, and offer them a chance to avoid a criminal conviction.—
David Clarey,
jsonline.com,
14 Oct. 2025
-
If this is what’s happening, Durvasula advises talent leaders to figure out ways to keep offenders away from as many people as possible.—
Susan Caminiti,
CNBC,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Flock Safety argues its drone system can act as a deterrent simply by being visible, making criminals think twice before targeting a store.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
11 Oct. 2025
-
So those drums can fall into the hands of criminals who then refill them with the cheaper, toxic liquids and pass them off as the pharmaceutical-grade product, selling them to drug manufacturers who are looking to save money on ingredients.—
Gabrielle Emanuel,
NPR,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Deem fired his weapon at the suspects, but no injuries were reported, and the disturbance suspect has not been apprehended.—
Jade Jackson,
IndyStar,
2 Oct. 2025
-
One of the suspects was found guilty of first-degree murder in June 2021, among a list of other charges, while the other suspect pleaded guilty in early 2020 to 17 counts, including murder charges.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defendants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defendants. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share