RECIDIVIST Synonyms: 50 Similar and Opposite Words

recidivist

noun

Definition of recidivist

as in offender

formal a person who continues to commit crimes even after being caught and punished

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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 recidivist Electronic monitoring and house arrest are heavily weighted as options for certain recidivist offenders. — Greg Norman , Charles Creitz, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2025 Gerald Ford, who was President during the peak of the arson wave, publicly mentioned the Bronx just once, to go by the American Presidency Project, and that was to commend Merola’s office for locking up recidivists. — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025 Another inspection list recidivist in March, Sang’s is a member of Miami-Dade’s Wretched Restaurant Row, restaurants along 167th Street/163rd Street that have failed inspection, often with an earth’s core deep level of disgusting violations. — David J. Neal updated August 8, Miami Herald, 8 Aug. 2025 Yet this seemingly entirely unnecessary act of recidivist safeguarding was how Tristan da Cunha came to be populated. — The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 23 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for recidivist

Recent Examples of Synonyms for recidivist

Noun

Schneider says royal ferns are known for doing this in the garden, while Jose Lopez, owner and founder of Williams Landscaping Chicago, says ostrich ferns and lady ferns are other common offenders.

— The Spruce, The Spruce, 5 Nov. 2026
Since taking office, the Governor has funded law enforcement at record levels and strengthened bail and discovery laws to hold all violent offenders accountable.

— Kelsie Cairns , Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of offender

Noun

The trailers were recovered by police nearby, presumably after the criminals cut the locks to reveal they were each loaded with 20,000 pounds of sand.

— Nick Indge, ArsTechnica, 6 Nov. 2026
Without changing state law, criminals can continue to be sentenced to death in California.

— Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of criminal

Noun

Yet, punishing such authoritarian lawbreakers for their domestic and international crimes is essential, in my view.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 18 Sep. 2026
The lawbreakers were gathered this day on a cliff and a nearby arch, a crowd of around 50 young people — 14- to 20-year-olds, mostly males.

— Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of lawbreaker

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rechristens

recidivist

recidivists

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“Recidivist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recidivist. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of recidivist

noun

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