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
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department later announced that the Masked Singer alum had been charged with three misdemeanors — battery with injury, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle, and public intoxication — before upgrading the battery charge to a felony.
—
Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
The man was one of 15 people scheduled to appear in Davis’ downtown courtroom that day under a new state law that shifted certain drug and theft crimes from misdemeanors to felonies for repeat offenders.
—Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Oct. 2025
In the City Council race, incumbent Teresa Jorgensen was found guilty in 2012 of three counts of criminal contempt of court, all misdemeanors.
—Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 23 Oct. 2025
Sanchez was charged with a felony for battery resulting in serious bodily injury and three misdemeanors; battery resulting in bodily injury, unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle and public intoxication that endangers the life of another.
—Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
Our count found at least eight citizens have pleaded guilty, mostly to misdemeanors, including for failing to follow orders.
—Nicole Foy, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2025
Dasilva and Xiong, seen on campus video fleeing the scene, were also charged with misdemeanors of resisting, obstructing or delaying a peace officer, prosecutors said.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 20 Oct. 2025
Herald reporters meticulously reviewed agency reports, spoke to witnesses never contacted by investigators and delved into public records to shine a light on what went wrong in Biscayne Bay, leading to George Pino being charged with misdemeanors, and ultimately, a felony.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
The assault charge was a felony, and the other charges were misdemeanors.
—Katie Langford, Denver Post, 16 Oct. 2025
Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
The man was one of 15 people scheduled to appear in Davis’ downtown courtroom that day under a new state law that shifted certain drug and theft crimes from misdemeanors to felonies for repeat offenders.
—Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Oct. 2025
In the City Council race, incumbent Teresa Jorgensen was found guilty in 2012 of three counts of criminal contempt of court, all misdemeanors.
—Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 23 Oct. 2025
Sanchez was charged with a felony for battery resulting in serious bodily injury and three misdemeanors; battery resulting in bodily injury, unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle and public intoxication that endangers the life of another.
—Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
Our count found at least eight citizens have pleaded guilty, mostly to misdemeanors, including for failing to follow orders.
—Nicole Foy, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2025
Dasilva and Xiong, seen on campus video fleeing the scene, were also charged with misdemeanors of resisting, obstructing or delaying a peace officer, prosecutors said.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 20 Oct. 2025
Herald reporters meticulously reviewed agency reports, spoke to witnesses never contacted by investigators and delved into public records to shine a light on what went wrong in Biscayne Bay, leading to George Pino being charged with misdemeanors, and ultimately, a felony.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
The assault charge was a felony, and the other charges were misdemeanors.
—Katie Langford, Denver Post, 16 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misdemeanors
Noun
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Van Horn’s case is among a series of incidents The Star has reported on in recent months in which fire department employees charged with crimes — including assaults, a felony drug case and multiple DWIs — have stayed on the job.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
31 Oct. 2025
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One of several people previously tied to the disappearance and death of 5-year-old Michael Vaughan has been charged with several crimes, including murder.—
Alex Brizee,
Idaho Statesman,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Racing co-owner Michael Jordan to sue NASCAR in federal court, alleging antitrust violations.—
Jeff Gluck,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
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The process of retrieving remains is plagued a deep sense of distrust that has prevailed between the two parties both throughout the past two years of war and in a ceasefire period already marked by dueling accusations of violations.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Jake is revealed to be embezzling from his business and steadily engages in a series of moral, personal, and legal trespasses that are at least as bad as Vince’s.—
Andrew Bernard,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Oct. 2025
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But others couldn’t look past his previous trespasses.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Misdemeanors.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misdemeanors. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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