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
In 2016 he’d been arrested in an alleged road rage incident at the Lincoln Tunnel between New York City and New Jersey, but gun charges were later dropped and the remaining charges reduced to misdemeanors.
—
Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 2026
In Georgia, those misdemeanors are punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 and up to a year in jail.
—Dan Raby, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
The charges cited in the complaint are misdemeanors, which carry less serious penalties than felonies.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 18 Mar. 2026
Perhaps the saddest was the case of a Garden Grove gas station owner who was convicted of misdemeanors for illegally giving customers preferential treatment.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
Court records show Austin has previously been convicted of second-degree property damage in Liberty and first-degree trespassing in Kansas City, both class B misdemeanors in Missouri.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 10 Mar. 2026
Davis has nine previous felony convictions as well as two misdemeanors, related to theft, welfare fraud, forgery, possession of cocaine, prostitution and other charges, Bosner said.
—Jessica Seaman, Denver Post, 9 Mar. 2026
Now, locally, the district attorney has charged Sheriff Smith with several misdemeanors for hiring unqualified people, not the people who were involved in Tony Mitchell's death, but other people, some of them school resource officers.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
The 18-year-old driver of the pickup was arrested on a felony charge of vehicular homicide, and four other teens were charged with misdemeanors.
—Charlotte Kramon, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 2026
In Georgia, those misdemeanors are punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 and up to a year in jail.
—Dan Raby, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
The charges cited in the complaint are misdemeanors, which carry less serious penalties than felonies.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 18 Mar. 2026
Perhaps the saddest was the case of a Garden Grove gas station owner who was convicted of misdemeanors for illegally giving customers preferential treatment.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
Court records show Austin has previously been convicted of second-degree property damage in Liberty and first-degree trespassing in Kansas City, both class B misdemeanors in Missouri.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 10 Mar. 2026
Davis has nine previous felony convictions as well as two misdemeanors, related to theft, welfare fraud, forgery, possession of cocaine, prostitution and other charges, Bosner said.
—Jessica Seaman, Denver Post, 9 Mar. 2026
Now, locally, the district attorney has charged Sheriff Smith with several misdemeanors for hiring unqualified people, not the people who were involved in Tony Mitchell's death, but other people, some of them school resource officers.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
The 18-year-old driver of the pickup was arrested on a felony charge of vehicular homicide, and four other teens were charged with misdemeanors.
—Charlotte Kramon, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misdemeanors
Noun
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Dorothy’s job was to get her hands on the checkbooks of wealthy men who for family and business reasons, had difficulty reporting her crimes.—
Kevin Foster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Mar. 2026
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The government had its own crimes to cover up.—
Zayd Ayers Dohrn,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The establishment is currently closed, and signage posted on the door indicates the business is facing multiple liquor license violations, including serving minors.—
Jamie Leary,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
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Thursday's hearing gave House investigators an opportunity to lay out their findings and make a motion for the panel of lawmakers to adopt their conclusion that Cherfilus-McCormick committed 27 ethics violations.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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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
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These seem like minor trespasses, but when no one feels comfortable telling the truth, the influence such behavior has on the 12-year-old Janna becomes concerning.—
Stephen Saito,
Variety,
5 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Misdemeanors.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misdemeanors. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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