Synonyms of defendants

defendants

noun

plural of defendant

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

• offenders
• criminals
• suspects
• accused
• perpetrators
• culprits
• convicts
• arrestees
• detainees
• accomplices
• principals
• fish
• lawbreakers
• misdemeanants
• crooks
• malefactors
• miscreants
• outlaws
• desperadoes
• jailbirds
• villains
• wrongdoers
• trespassers
• perps
• racketeers
• gangsters
• thugs
• sinners
• mobsters
• hoodlums
• transgressors
• guns
• hooligans
• recidivists
• triggermen
• misdoers
• misfeasors
• evildoers
• gallows birds
• enforcers
• blackhanders
• backsliders
• gunmen
• button men
• gunsels
• hit men
• relapsers
• repeaters

Dissimilar Words

• lawmen
• gangbusters

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of defendants

The negligence lawsuit names FDOT and 14 companies as defendants. — Brittany Wallman, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026

Emily Moreno and Zashin are the subjects of Miller’s defamation lawsuit, which alleged the defendants disseminated domestic abuse allegations that were then published by national and regional news outlets. — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 30 July 2026

Five of the six adult defendants charged in connection with the Cheltenham High School hazing investigation have turned themselves in to police, as prosecutors and lawmakers push for changes to Pennsylvania's mandatory reporting laws. — Ross Dimattei, CBS News, 30 July 2026

Commentary and opinions Columnist Steve Lopez gives readers an inside look into a Hollywood courtroom where defendants are sentenced to get help and graduations are celebrated. — Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026

Attorneys for the three defendants did not respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment. — Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026

The lawsuit names multiple defendants, including the national Delta Upsilon Fraternity, the Alumni of Kansas Chapter of Delta Upsilon and the Kansas Chapter of Delta Upsilon Educational Foundation. — Cuyler Dunn, Kansas City Star, 29 July 2026

Following a 24-day trial, the jury found an allegation that the defendants laid in wait was true, prosecutors said. — Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 23 July 2026

This meant that the Hus' complaints were justified and ― since an element of a tortious interference claim is that the defendants' conduct was unjustified ― this cause of action by RCA failed as well. — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026