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

Thaci and the other defendants, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi, pleaded not guilty to all charges against them. — Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2026

By filing that brief handwritten petition, Kohberger is putting himself in the category of many criminal defendants before him, who have argued after the fact that their guilty pleas were coerced. — Mark Guarino, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026

In the agreement, Kohberger also waived his ability to appeal, though defendants always retain the right to later assert ineffective assistance of counsel and pursue post-conviction relief in court. — Kevin Fixler september 17, Idaho Statesman, 17 Sep. 2026

Jared Koopman, head of the IRS’ criminal investigations division, told reporters the defendants then allegedly used the proceeds to purchase luxury homes, send money overseas through wire transfers and make large cash withdrawals. — Ken Sweet, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026

The indictment accuses one of the Cuban defendants of communicating with associates involved in the Lithuanian and Czech attacks and booking hotels and travel for them. — Joe Walsh, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026

All co-defendants are accused of failing to protect a minor and negligence. — Madeline Morrison, NBC news, 11 Sep. 2026