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
-
California Highway Patrol officers are assigned to the Express Lanes and those toll roads and can certainly see expired tags and choose to pull over offenders.—
Jim Radcliffe,
Oc Register,
29 May 2026
-
According to Doggett, the worst offenders are bigleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla).—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
The bigger issue is that many systems still rely on information criminals may already have, such as birthdays, addresses and partial Social Security numbers.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
30 May 2026
-
Morrison has covered stories worldwide, interviewing everyone from presidents and prime ministers, student protesters under fire in Tiananmen Square, to criminals, teachers, artists, actors and authors.—
Dateline NBC,
NBC news,
29 May 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 6 Jun. 2026.
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