1
as in criminals
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 offenders
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
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Recent Examples of malefactors
To be confronted by Mike Wallace was the deepest dread of countless malefactors in public and corporate life.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
5 June 2026
The malefactors in Roald Dahl’s fiction are easy to spot.
—
Yair Rosenberg,
The Atlantic,
31 May 2026
Electronic medical records were once touted as secure, but whole hospital systems have been taken down and held for ransom by malefactors.
—
Cory Franklin,
Twin Cities,
23 Nov. 2025
The Sea of Excrement, with its bobbing malefactors, is especially memorable.
—
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
On social media, Tan was pugilistic to the point of belligerence, casting his political enemies as corrupt malefactors responsible for the despoliation of his beloved city.
—
Literary Hub,
15 Oct. 2025
Either way, The Lowdown finds Harjo dipping into pleasantly familiar reservoirs of fiction in which the protagonists know how to take a constant beating, the malefactors are all suspiciously verbose and ostentatious hats abound.
—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2019
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
5 June 2026
The malefactors in Roald Dahl’s fiction are easy to spot.
—
Yair Rosenberg,
The Atlantic,
31 May 2026
Electronic medical records were once touted as secure, but whole hospital systems have been taken down and held for ransom by malefactors.
—
Cory Franklin,
Twin Cities,
23 Nov. 2025
The Sea of Excrement, with its bobbing malefactors, is especially memorable.
—
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
On social media, Tan was pugilistic to the point of belligerence, casting his political enemies as corrupt malefactors responsible for the despoliation of his beloved city.
—
Literary Hub,
15 Oct. 2025
Either way, The Lowdown finds Harjo dipping into pleasantly familiar reservoirs of fiction in which the protagonists know how to take a constant beating, the malefactors are all suspiciously verbose and ostentatious hats abound.
—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malefactors
Noun
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What begins as a chance to escape the routine of his everyday life quickly spirals into a dangerous gathering of powerful criminals, old enemies, and unresolved loyalties.
-
That creates the perfect opening for criminals.
Noun
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Deputies responded to the area and identified an undisclosed number of juveniles as the offenders, officials said.
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Survivors have fought for a full public account of priests, with San Francisco the only diocese in the state that has not released such a list of clergy abuse offenders.
Noun
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New York’s Bivens Act remedies this by extending the protections of Section 1983 to all individual government wrongdoers — including federal ones.
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The overpowering moral authority of wronged women, #MeToo’s skeptics alleged, would allow cynical wrongdoers to weaponize claims of victimhood for their own gain.
Noun
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That relationship was based on sinners confessing their sins to this vicar.
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Far too pure for the sinners who run this godless theocracy.
Noun
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Together, the band brings to life a mythic world of ancient heroes and villains, attracting an excited audience of headbangers and fantasy fanatics, many of whom show up in costume.
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Animation fans were in for a very tasty treat, as the episode introduced villains and set the tone for the brutal show adapted from the best-selling Vertigo series by the late Anthony Bourdain, co-created with Joel Rose.
Cite this Entry
“Malefactors.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malefactors. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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