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
Ballmer and the other defendants are accused by 11 investors in Aspiration of fraud and aiding and abetting fraud, with the plaintiffs seeking at least $50 million in damages.
—
Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
Edens, a professor of psychology at Texas A&M University, testified about studies he’s been involved in that examined whether experts accurately predicted future violence by defendants believed to be a threat.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Apr. 2026
Two alleged co-defendants, Patricia Enderton, 45, and Federico Jorge Triebel IV, 79, pleaded not guilty in the case and are set to go to trial later this year.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
Murray emphasized that all defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty, and declined to discuss the specifics of the case against Rice.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 23 Apr. 2026
The remaining 11 defendants are from Lovington, a southeastern New Mexico community of about 11,690 people, roughly 20 miles west of the Texas state line and squarely inside the Permian Basin.
—Doug Myers, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
Queens Defenders provides legal representation to criminal defendants who can’t afford to hire lawyers, but Zeno and boyfriend Rashad Ruhani used the organization as their personal piggy bank, stealing to pay the rent on their swanky $6,000-a-month Astoria penthouse apartment.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 16 Apr. 2026
The other two defendants, former ComEd lobbyists John Hooker and Jay Doherty, didn’t appeal and now are serving the remainder of their time in halfway houses.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
The defendants reference Akeem Daniels, et al.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 24 Mar. 2025
Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
Edens, a professor of psychology at Texas A&M University, testified about studies he’s been involved in that examined whether experts accurately predicted future violence by defendants believed to be a threat.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Apr. 2026
Two alleged co-defendants, Patricia Enderton, 45, and Federico Jorge Triebel IV, 79, pleaded not guilty in the case and are set to go to trial later this year.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
Murray emphasized that all defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty, and declined to discuss the specifics of the case against Rice.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 23 Apr. 2026
The remaining 11 defendants are from Lovington, a southeastern New Mexico community of about 11,690 people, roughly 20 miles west of the Texas state line and squarely inside the Permian Basin.
—Doug Myers, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
Queens Defenders provides legal representation to criminal defendants who can’t afford to hire lawyers, but Zeno and boyfriend Rashad Ruhani used the organization as their personal piggy bank, stealing to pay the rent on their swanky $6,000-a-month Astoria penthouse apartment.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 16 Apr. 2026
The other two defendants, former ComEd lobbyists John Hooker and Jay Doherty, didn’t appeal and now are serving the remainder of their time in halfway houses.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
The defendants reference Akeem Daniels, et al.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 24 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defendants
Noun
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One way to stop this proliferation of deep-fake nudity is to prosecute the offenders and make examples that such foolery has consequences.—
Charles Selle,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
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He was convicted in 2019 at age 13 of assaulting another child at school with a hockey stick and placed under supervision of a local service for youth offenders.—
Brian Melley,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Many of the toughest criminals taken into ICE custody were already in prison, but many others who were arrested have no criminal history.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
25 Apr. 2026
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In the furthest part of space lies Dante 01, a detention facility that houses criminals who have committed the most shocking crimes imaginable.—
Sergio Pereira,
Space.com,
25 Apr. 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 26 Apr. 2026.
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