as in criminals
a person who has committed a serious crime
The convicted felon wanted to make amends after his release from jail.
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Recent Examples of felons
While body armor is legal for most Americans to own, felons with a history of violence are barred from possessing it.
—
Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026
Lawsuits against states' firearm rules The federal government generally only sets the floor for firearm use and transactions, regulating issues such as background checks, barring most felons from having guns, and establishing rules for dealer licenses.
—Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 20 May 2026
Even felons — the Menendez brothers for example, and the late Jeffrey Epstein — are free to seek federal office; only the states have prohibitions against felon candidates.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
Four people voted despite being felons, one voted twice, and one, only one, voted despite being a non-citizen.
—Adriana E. Ramírez, Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2026
They also were charged with being felons in possession of a weapon.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
Growing the colony For the first 52 years of the colony’s existence, New South Wales continued to receive regular consignments of felons, largely consisting of people who had been found guilty of property crimes.
—Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Mar. 2026
Lawsuits help felons get their guns back A majority of the 22 individuals named in February by the attorney general had their rights restored after applying for full pardons at the department.
—Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
Of those arrested, 105 were convicted felons, and 61 were documented gang members.
—CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026
Lawsuits against states' firearm rules The federal government generally only sets the floor for firearm use and transactions, regulating issues such as background checks, barring most felons from having guns, and establishing rules for dealer licenses.
—Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 20 May 2026
Even felons — the Menendez brothers for example, and the late Jeffrey Epstein — are free to seek federal office; only the states have prohibitions against felon candidates.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
Four people voted despite being felons, one voted twice, and one, only one, voted despite being a non-citizen.
—Adriana E. Ramírez, Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2026
They also were charged with being felons in possession of a weapon.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
Growing the colony For the first 52 years of the colony’s existence, New South Wales continued to receive regular consignments of felons, largely consisting of people who had been found guilty of property crimes.
—Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Mar. 2026
Lawsuits help felons get their guns back A majority of the 22 individuals named in February by the attorney general had their rights restored after applying for full pardons at the department.
—Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
Of those arrested, 105 were convicted felons, and 61 were documented gang members.
—CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for felons
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
-
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
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According to Doggett, the worst offenders are bigleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla).—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Felons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/felons. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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