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
Court records show Yaye faces 144 charges, ranging from felonies to misdemeanors to summary offenses.
—
Michael Guise, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
Of the 380,000 convictions that were never reported, about 147,000 involved felonies and 233,000 were misdemeanors, according to the court.
—City News Service, Daily News, 24 Feb. 2026
Former Plantation Mayor Lynn Stoner was sentenced Tuesday to one year of probation after pleading no contest to charges of official misconduct and two related misdemeanors.
—Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 24 Feb. 2026
He was charged with three counts of battery, one count of strangulation and three misdemeanors.
—Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026
The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office said the pleas came after Judge Deborah Ryan approved a deal to reduce the original felony vandalism and conspiracy charges to misdemeanors under an agreement reached late last year.
—Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2026
Cole was arrested on charges of reckless driving and exceeding the maximum limit, both misdemeanors.
—Connor Riley, AJC.com, 20 Feb. 2026
At least 19 other people arrested Wednesday were charged with misdemeanors of keeping a gambling place or gambling promotion.
—John Wayne Ferguson, Houston Chronicle, 20 Feb. 2026
Several of the cases filed in recent weeks have already been dropped by prosecutors or reduced from felonies to misdemeanors.
—Isabelle Chapman, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
Michael Guise, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
Of the 380,000 convictions that were never reported, about 147,000 involved felonies and 233,000 were misdemeanors, according to the court.
—City News Service, Daily News, 24 Feb. 2026
Former Plantation Mayor Lynn Stoner was sentenced Tuesday to one year of probation after pleading no contest to charges of official misconduct and two related misdemeanors.
—Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 24 Feb. 2026
He was charged with three counts of battery, one count of strangulation and three misdemeanors.
—Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026
The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office said the pleas came after Judge Deborah Ryan approved a deal to reduce the original felony vandalism and conspiracy charges to misdemeanors under an agreement reached late last year.
—Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2026
Cole was arrested on charges of reckless driving and exceeding the maximum limit, both misdemeanors.
—Connor Riley, AJC.com, 20 Feb. 2026
At least 19 other people arrested Wednesday were charged with misdemeanors of keeping a gambling place or gambling promotion.
—John Wayne Ferguson, Houston Chronicle, 20 Feb. 2026
Several of the cases filed in recent weeks have already been dropped by prosecutors or reduced from felonies to misdemeanors.
—Isabelle Chapman, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misdemeanors
Noun
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Undocumented immigrants who are arrested would have a harder time making bail and face greater penalties for election crimes under a bill from Reynolds.—
Stephen Gruber-Miller,
Des Moines Register,
20 Feb. 2026
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Olivia, Bailey’s mother, was really Kate Smith, and her father was Nicholas Bell (David Morse), famous mob lawyer for The Syndicate, or The Organization, a group notorious for crimes and brutal retaliation against their enemies.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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However, the amnesty explicitly excludes those convicted or prosecuted for homicide, drug trafficking, corruption, grave human rights violations, crimes against humanity and war crimes.—
Alessandra Freitas,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
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The legislation excludes people accused of involvement in military rebellions or coups, as well as those charged with serious crimes such as human-rights violations, intentional homicide, drug trafficking and corruption.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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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
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Matilda, fresh on the island, even trespasses on Beechwood and sees the wreckage herself.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Misdemeanors.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misdemeanors. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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