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
State officials who are defendants in the lawsuit denied restricting the detainees' access to their attorneys and said any protocols were in place for security reasons and to make sure there was sufficient staffing.
—
Arkansas Online, 29 Jan. 2026
The defendants, have denied all the allegations.
—Charlotte Observer, 29 Jan. 2026
Kamil’s co-defendants Jordan Adams and Jennifer Pruneda previously pleaded guilty to the same charges.
—Andrea Klick, Oc Register, 29 Jan. 2026
The state statute says defendants are chargeable if a death occurs, regardless of intent to kill, during the commission of a felony-level crime.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 29 Jan. 2026
As of December, more than 60 defendants in fraud cases were convicted, according to Attorney General Pam Bondi, which includes those convicted during the Biden Administration.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 29 Jan. 2026
The remaining three defendants, Lucca Perez Costa, Leonardo Meira Gomes and Tadeu Sebastiane Rabelo Alves Barbosa, are described as couriers.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 28 Jan. 2026
The conviction is part of a broader effort by the Justice Department's Health Care Fraud Strike Force, which has charged more than 5,800 defendants and uncovered over $30 billion in fraudulent billings since its inception in 2007.
—Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
The Education and Justice departments, two of the top agencies named as defendants in the lawsuit, did not immediately return a request for comment.
—Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 2025
Arkansas Online, 29 Jan. 2026
The defendants, have denied all the allegations.
—Charlotte Observer, 29 Jan. 2026
Kamil’s co-defendants Jordan Adams and Jennifer Pruneda previously pleaded guilty to the same charges.
—Andrea Klick, Oc Register, 29 Jan. 2026
The state statute says defendants are chargeable if a death occurs, regardless of intent to kill, during the commission of a felony-level crime.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 29 Jan. 2026
As of December, more than 60 defendants in fraud cases were convicted, according to Attorney General Pam Bondi, which includes those convicted during the Biden Administration.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 29 Jan. 2026
The remaining three defendants, Lucca Perez Costa, Leonardo Meira Gomes and Tadeu Sebastiane Rabelo Alves Barbosa, are described as couriers.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 28 Jan. 2026
The conviction is part of a broader effort by the Justice Department's Health Care Fraud Strike Force, which has charged more than 5,800 defendants and uncovered over $30 billion in fraudulent billings since its inception in 2007.
—Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
The Education and Justice departments, two of the top agencies named as defendants in the lawsuit, did not immediately return a request for comment.
—Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defendants
Noun
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Castillo said the solution requires leadership, coordination and a return to focused enforcement that prioritizes violent criminal offenders over broad street operations that escalate confrontation.—
Stepheny Price , Ashley Papa,
FOXNews.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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In fact, reconciliation was often ill-advised, especially if offenders had not expressed remorse or commitment to any type of meaningful change.—
Richard Balkin,
The Conversation,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Immigration and Integration Minister Rasmus Stoklund said 315 foreign criminals from countries outside the European Union had received sentences of more than a year over the last five years but were not expelled.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
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Top police brass nationwide rarely criticize their federal partners, relying on collaboration to investigate gangs, extremist groups and other major criminals — while also counting on millions in funding from Washington each year.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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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
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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 5 Feb. 2026.
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