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

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 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

The law would extend the time that repeat DUI offenders would have their driver’s license suspended from three years to six years.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
More often than not, this audit finds the larger offenders causing the retention problem.

— Kellie Lauth, Forbes.com, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of offender

Noun

Removing violent criminals, gang members, cartel members and those who refuse to work is wise and popular policy.

— Don Bacon, Washington Post, 25 Sep. 2026
Americans have demonized us as criminals, buffoons, lechers, invaders, criminals and job stealers since the fall of the Alamo.

— Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 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

Browse Nearby Words

rechristens

recidivist

recidivists

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Recidivist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recidivist. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of recidivist

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

argot

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

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

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

Popular in Wordplay

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes