1
as in criminal
a person who commits moral wrongs
she regards anyone who would cause the breakup of a family as a malefactor of the worst sort
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in offender
a person who has committed a crime
the victim was able to give a clear description of the malefactor to the police
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 malefactor
In her introductory speech, Amanpour foreshadows what’s to come, warning that malefactors with enticing narratives can only manipulate us because of our eagerness to believe them.
—
Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2024
This keeps malefactors from abusing the service to snoop on private data other than their own.
—PCMAG, 7 Jan. 2025
If not properly secured, OTA updates may be intercepted and altered by malefactors, risking the reliability of the entire system.
—Klaudia Zaika, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
In her introductory speech, Amanpour foreshadows what’s to come, warning that malefactors with enticing narratives can only manipulate us because of our eagerness to believe them.
—Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for malefactor
Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2024
This keeps malefactors from abusing the service to snoop on private data other than their own.
—PCMAG, 7 Jan. 2025
If not properly secured, OTA updates may be intercepted and altered by malefactors, risking the reliability of the entire system.
—Klaudia Zaika, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
In her introductory speech, Amanpour foreshadows what’s to come, warning that malefactors with enticing narratives can only manipulate us because of our eagerness to believe them.
—Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for malefactor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malefactor
Noun
-
Betty Ann Tomlinson, 50, was charged Thursday afternoon with arson, conspiracy to commit arson and assisting a criminal.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
12 July 2025
-
The thriller follows a professional criminal who, after surviving an assassination attempt, embarks on a relentless quest to identify his would-be killer and protect his family.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
So, people may feel compelled to condemn the wrongdoer to restore a sense of justice.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
-
Thanks to another recent court ruling, the FCC has also had a harder time fining wrongdoers, Quilici explained.—
Alix Martichoux,
The Hill,
20 June 2025
Noun
-
Matthias Schoenaerts signed on as the film's villain, Krem of the Yellow Hills, in September 2024, per Deadline, and a few months later, Jason Momoa confirmed his casting as the violent intergalactic bounty hunter, Lobo.—
Samantha Stutsman,
People.com,
12 July 2025
-
But just to use an example, Force Awakens sets up Snoke as the big villain of the new trilogy, with a mysterious backstory.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
12 July 2025
Noun
-
The American project is a patchwork of dreamers and doers, saints and sinners, stitched together by the thread of promise that stretches across generations.—
F. Willis Johnson,
Twin Cities,
10 July 2025
-
Horses and men, dust and earth, saints and sinners.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
24 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Malefactor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malefactor. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share