as in crimes
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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Recent Examples of misdemeanors
Mejer has now been charged on suspicion of felony child endangerment and felony accessory after the fact of a crime, as well as misdemeanors for contributing to the delinquency of a minor, loaning a motor vehicle to an unlicensed driver and providing false information to an officer.
—
Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
He’s charged with driving under the influence and refusing to take a chemical or physical test of his breath or urine, both misdemeanors.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2026
Branch, who declared for the NFL Draft in January, was charged with obstruction of an officer and obstructing a public sidewalk, both misdemeanors, early Sunday morning.
—Dan Raby, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026
Since the franchise's inception in the early 2000s, some of the cast members have made headlines for very real legal troubles, ranging from misdemeanors to major federal cases.
—Diane J. Cho, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
Stuart Roane, 59, is charged with causing serious bodily injury when operating a vehicle with a Schedule I or II substance in his blood, a Level 5 felony, operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangerment, and reckless driving, both Class A misdemeanors.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
Former Michigan coach Sherrone Moore avoids jail time after pleading no contest to misdemeanors related to an incident at a staffer’s home.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 15 Apr. 2026
Moore initially faced a felony home-invasion charge, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, along with misdemeanors.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 14 Apr. 2026
Both charges are misdemeanors, according to Mecklenburg County jail records.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 13 Apr. 2026
Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
He’s charged with driving under the influence and refusing to take a chemical or physical test of his breath or urine, both misdemeanors.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2026
Branch, who declared for the NFL Draft in January, was charged with obstruction of an officer and obstructing a public sidewalk, both misdemeanors, early Sunday morning.
—Dan Raby, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026
Since the franchise's inception in the early 2000s, some of the cast members have made headlines for very real legal troubles, ranging from misdemeanors to major federal cases.
—Diane J. Cho, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
Stuart Roane, 59, is charged with causing serious bodily injury when operating a vehicle with a Schedule I or II substance in his blood, a Level 5 felony, operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangerment, and reckless driving, both Class A misdemeanors.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
Former Michigan coach Sherrone Moore avoids jail time after pleading no contest to misdemeanors related to an incident at a staffer’s home.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 15 Apr. 2026
Moore initially faced a felony home-invasion charge, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, along with misdemeanors.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 14 Apr. 2026
Both charges are misdemeanors, according to Mecklenburg County jail records.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 13 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misdemeanors
Noun
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Given the scale of Epstein’s crimes, highlighting due-process concerns can feel small-bore, or even like apologism.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The 14-page bill improves enforcement of no-contact orders, ups repeat violations of protection orders to felony offenses, and provides protection to witnesses and victims who report domestic violence crimes.—
Molly Parks,
The Washington Examiner,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Both Israel and Hezbollah have traded accusations of ceasefire violations, with a Lebanese journalist, Amal Khalil, killed in an Israeli airstrike just yesterday.—
Sean Nevin,
NBC news,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Red-light cameras generate municipal revenue by capturing traffic violations, for which drivers are then fined.—
Evy Lewis,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Bees don’t necessarily want to enter your home and bother you, but an open door or window can allow for some accidental trespasses.—
Asia London Palomba,
The Spruce,
7 Apr. 2026
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The pattern of trespasses at Mar-a-Lago culminated in a dramatic security incident on Sunday, when an armed man carrying what appeared to be a shotgun and a fuel can breached the perimeter.—
WPEC Staff,
Baltimore Sun,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Misdemeanors.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misdemeanors. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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