PLAINTIFF Synonyms: 11 Similar and Opposite Words

plaintiff

noun

ˈplān-təf

Definition of plaintiff

as in complainant

the person in a legal proceeding who makes a charge of wrongdoing against another the judge ruled that the plaintiff's lawsuit was groundless, and he dismissed it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of plaintiff And so the company says the states and the other plaintiff, the Writers’ Guild of America, should be on the hook. — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026 The complaint was amended again in January, when California State University’s board of trustees—which oversee San Diego State and Fresno State—joined as an additional plaintiff. — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 17 Aug. 2026 As an attorney general filing a civil rights case, Hanaway didn’t need to include a plaintiff in the case. — Jack Harvel august 17, Kansas City Star, 17 Aug. 2026 Bonta’s office also noted that Paramount previously had not sought a bond from the plaintiffs. — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for plaintiff

Recent Examples of Synonyms for plaintiff

Noun

One anonymous complainant told the department that an elderly man had nearly drowned in the pool and was taken to a hospital.

— Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 10 Aug. 2026
The complainant alleged that the driver of a minivan had pointed a firearm at them a few towns over.

— Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of complainant

Noun

This disclosure prompted church leadership to meet with the accuser and her mother, which ultimately resulted in a report to the child abuse hotline that same month.

— John Lynch, Arkansas Online, 21 Aug. 2026
The film initially touched on the 1993 allegations against the singer, but a binding legal clause in the $20 million settlement with one accuser forced producers to scrap the third act, rewrite the script, reshoot, and end the first film in 1987.

— Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of accuser

Noun

If the appeals court affirms the conviction, the handbook says the appellant can then petition the United States Supreme Court for a certiorari review.

— Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 12 May 2026
Previously, when a Planning Commission decision was appealed, the City Council could only consider the issues raised by the appellant.

— Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026

Definition of appellant

Browse Nearby Words

plaint

plaintiff

plaintiffs

See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

Style

“Plaintiff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plaintiff. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of plaintiff

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on plaintiff

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

august

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes