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misdemeanor

noun

Definition of misdemeanornext
as in crime
law a criminal act that is less serious than a felony He was charged with committing a misdemeanor. a misdemeanor traffic violation

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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 misdemeanor Quast was subsequently arrested and booked into the Wright County jail on a gross misdemeanor theft charge, according to TMZ. — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026 Bartko was arrested in Miami-Dade County in May on a misdemeanor charge that was later dropped. — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 17 Sep. 2026 Jacobs’ attorneys said he was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine plus costs on the misdemeanor battery charge. — Zach Powell, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026 Campbell is now charged with simple assault and harassment, which are misdemeanor and summary offenses. — Shelley Bortz, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for misdemeanor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misdemeanor
  1. crime
  2. violation
  3. trespass
  4. misconduct
Noun
  • Anti-immigrant marches and vigilante groups have driven a wave of social upheaval in South Africa this year, often blaming foreign migrants for the country's high crime rate.
    — Rael Ombuor The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The poll also showed that crime did not crack the top five most important issues.
    — Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of crime
Noun
  • Under Arkansas law, anyone selling alcohol on a Sunday without a permit can be found guilty of a violation fined up to $250.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Both men were denied parole last year, in part because of their use of contraband cellphones and other violations of prison rules.
    — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of violation
Noun
  • Both Craig and Baker-Coleman were charged with conspiracy to commit larceny of a motor vehicle, second-degree criminal trespass, sixth-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit sixth-degree larceny.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Officer Luis Triunfel, 33, was charged Monday with burglary, grand larceny, computer trespass and tampering with evidence, police said.
    — Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of trespass
Noun
  • In January 2022, Whedon denied the allegations of misconduct against him in an interview with Vulture.
    — Kate Hogan, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026
  • The Star reported this story over the course of several weeks following an anonymous Reddit thread that went viral detailing allegations about Jay Sanders’ misconduct and abuse at popular Kansas City-area bars Drastic Measures and Wild Child.
    — Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of misconduct

Browse Nearby Words

misdemeanants
misdemeanor
misdemeanors
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Cite this Entry

“Misdemeanor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misdemeanor. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on misdemeanor

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about misdemeanor

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