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.
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Recent Examples of defendants
The corporate defendants are both incorporated in New York.
—
Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 4 June 2026
Tyson is requesting an Arthur hearing, which allows judges to consider setting bonds for defendants charged with crimes that aren’t normally eligible for bail.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026
The defendants are alleged to have offered therapeutic behavioral services and psychotherapy to young adults and children who were attending summer camps, church groups and recreational programs, according to the source.
—Laura Geller, CBS News, 4 June 2026
It was filed nearly three and a half years after the 2020 election and levels complicated conspiracy charges against 18 defendants.
—Jacques Billeaud, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
Even though the laws charged in Comey’s case are generally valid and constitutional, criminal defendants can always argue that otherwise valid and constitutional laws are unconstitutional as applied to them and their particular case.
—Wayne Unger, The Conversation, 4 June 2026
Several of these cases led to denaturalization, with defendants making few or no court appearances.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 4 June 2026
The 41-person state agency contracts with private defense attorneys to represent indigent defendants who cannot be represented by the Office of the State Public Defender, typically when public defenders have conflicts of interest.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 4 June 2026
None of the defendants testified in their own defense.
—Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2026
Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 4 June 2026
Tyson is requesting an Arthur hearing, which allows judges to consider setting bonds for defendants charged with crimes that aren’t normally eligible for bail.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026
The defendants are alleged to have offered therapeutic behavioral services and psychotherapy to young adults and children who were attending summer camps, church groups and recreational programs, according to the source.
—Laura Geller, CBS News, 4 June 2026
It was filed nearly three and a half years after the 2020 election and levels complicated conspiracy charges against 18 defendants.
—Jacques Billeaud, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
Even though the laws charged in Comey’s case are generally valid and constitutional, criminal defendants can always argue that otherwise valid and constitutional laws are unconstitutional as applied to them and their particular case.
—Wayne Unger, The Conversation, 4 June 2026
Several of these cases led to denaturalization, with defendants making few or no court appearances.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 4 June 2026
The 41-person state agency contracts with private defense attorneys to represent indigent defendants who cannot be represented by the Office of the State Public Defender, typically when public defenders have conflicts of interest.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 4 June 2026
None of the defendants testified in their own defense.
—Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defendants
Noun
-
Some offenders already are barred, including those convicted of first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
-
Florida prosecutes children as adults for serious crimes and sends juvenile offenders to adult prisons at higher rates than any other state.—
Jay Blitzman,
The Conversation,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
Russian athletes are routinely asked to answer for the actions of their government, yet athletes from other countries are rarely subjected to the same scrutiny or treated as though they are personally aligned with war criminals or dictators.—
Jon Root OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
7 June 2026
-
Rafay Baloch, a cybersecurity expert and author of the book Web Hacking Arsenal, says that criminals specifically look for travelers who appear disoriented.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Noun
-
Two suspects hit several businesses in the Fairfax District early Tuesday morning, with one suspect in police custody.—
Julie Sharp,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Defendants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defendants. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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