as in criminal
a person who has committed a crime
juvenile offenders have their criminal records sealed when they turn 18
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Recent Examples of offender
Witnesses intervened, and the unknown offender left the scene in an unknown direction.
—
Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026
Jalloh has a lengthy history of stabbing residents across Fairfax County, his offender sheet shows.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 22 Mar. 2026
Now, three weeks into a war of choice, the chief offender is the President of the United States.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2026
The biggest offenders were people parking at the mall and heading to jobs elsewhere and travelers leaving their cars there instead of San Jose International Airport.
—Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2026
In a show where the judging is often accused of being arbitrary, the makeover is considered the worst offender.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 21 Mar. 2026
Entering a football stadium without a ticket will become a criminal offence in England and Wales for the first time this weekend, with offenders facing a Football Banning Order of up to five years and a maximum fine of £1,000 ($1,343).
—Matt Slater, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2026
If the offender successfully completes the diversion program, the criminal charges are dismissed.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 20 Mar. 2026
The law raised the cutoff for youthful offender parole from age 23 to age 25.
—Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026
Jalloh has a lengthy history of stabbing residents across Fairfax County, his offender sheet shows.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 22 Mar. 2026
Now, three weeks into a war of choice, the chief offender is the President of the United States.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2026
The biggest offenders were people parking at the mall and heading to jobs elsewhere and travelers leaving their cars there instead of San Jose International Airport.
—Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2026
In a show where the judging is often accused of being arbitrary, the makeover is considered the worst offender.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 21 Mar. 2026
Entering a football stadium without a ticket will become a criminal offence in England and Wales for the first time this weekend, with offenders facing a Football Banning Order of up to five years and a maximum fine of £1,000 ($1,343).
—Matt Slater, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2026
If the offender successfully completes the diversion program, the criminal charges are dismissed.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 20 Mar. 2026
The law raised the cutoff for youthful offender parole from age 23 to age 25.
—Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offender
Noun
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These laws make anyone who’s even a little gender nonconforming an object of suspicion, a potential criminal.—
Darren Rosenblum,
Mercury News,
21 Mar. 2026
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Many people copy cryptocurrency wallet addresses before sending digital currency, and those addresses can be valuable to criminals.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Sometimes the culprit is the observer—the propagandizing correspondent, the mythologizing historian.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
21 Mar. 2026
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Generous pay raises can be seen as a culprit — or a way many Californians survive the financial stress.—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Offender.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offender. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
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