felony

noun

Definition of felonynext
as in crime
law a serious criminal act (such as murder or rape) The crime is considered a felony under state law. He was convicted of committing a felony.

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of felony Hanh Minh Nguyen, 75, of Anaheim was charged Thursday with a felony count of animal crushing. — Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2026 Like Palazzolo, defendant Alden Welch Ruml faces a charge of interstate communications involving threats, a felony. — Eduardo Cuevas, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2026 He was charged with two counts of felony securities fraud by Texas prosecutors and in 2024 reached a deal to avoid trial that involved paying nearly $300,000 in restitution. — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 30 Oct. 2026 Officers are allowed to pursue suspects for any forcible felony, and for car burglaries. — Brittany Wallman, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for felony
Recent Examples of Synonyms for felony
  1. crime
  2. trespass
  3. misdemeanor
  4. violation
Noun
  • The former prince has repeatedly denied committing any crimes.
    — Danica Kirka, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2026
  • In the 1980s Americans became gripped with satanic panic, the fear that Satan worshippers were committing heinous crimes against children.
    — Jordana Rosenfeld, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of crime
Noun
  • Joel DeJesus surrendered himself Thursday on an indictment charging him with computer trespass, official misconduct and unlawful dissemination of an intimate image, officials said.
    — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The suspect, 27-year-old Miguel Alonso Maldonado Soriano of Stafford, Virginia, has been charged with felony destruction of property, trespass with intent to damage, and felony injury to a monument, court records show.
    — Diego Mendoza, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of trespass
Noun
  • Ross, whose legal name is William Leonard Roberts, is now charged with misdemeanor domestic violence battery, according to court records.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The tampering count is a misdemeanor; Mitchell faces one year in the Platte County Jail on that, the district attorney’s office said.
    — Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of misdemeanor
Noun
  • That was true in its yeshiva reform efforts when hesitant and understaffed local districts were charged with investigations and, even when violations were substantiated, the schools couldn’t be closed down.
    — David Bloomfield, New York Daily News, 1 Nov. 2026
  • But that still amounts to 79 inquiries now being double-checked for a possible violation of policy.
    — Graham Hurley, CNN Money, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of violation

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Cite this Entry

“Felony.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/felony. Accessed 4 Nov. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on felony

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about felony

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