Synonyms of vigilantes

vigilantes

noun

plural of vigilante

as in nemeses

one who inflicts punishment in return for an injury or offense

the danger of these self-appointed vigilantes is that they sometimes go after innocent people

Synonyms & Similar Words

• nemeses
• avengers
• punishers
• chastisers
• scourges
• castigators
• righters
• revengers
• redressers
• requiters

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• redeemers
• vindicators
• ransomers

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of vigilantes

No fanfare had attended its completion near what is now Santa Clarita in 1926, the better to avoid attention from Owens Valley vigilantes, who were known to dynamite aqueduct pipes as protest against the diversion of their river water. — Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026

The massacre devastated Wilmington’s flourishing Black middle class and sent a message of impunity to white vigilantes nationwide. — Namara Smith, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2026

Bands of vigilantes went after the animals with cricket bats or swerved deliberately to run them over, but the toads continued their relentless spread. — Kimon De Greef, Longreads, 4 Aug. 2026

Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh is feeling the weight of the bond vigilantes this week. — Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 31 July 2026

Countless vigilantes have taken to the roadways armed with trash bags, spray paint, laser pointers, and power drills to render the surveillance poles useless, resulting in arrests and investigations by police. — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 30 July 2026

Dozens of Flock cameras have been forcibly disabled in recent weeks, with many people cheering on the vigilantes. — T.m. Brown, CNN Money, 30 July 2026

In Spider-Man, Holland’s Peter Parker knows Bernthal’s Frank Castle/Punisher as one of several vigilantes roaming the streets of New York City. — Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 28 July 2026

The unrest began in mid-March but has intensified, leaving at least three dead as vigilantes armed with spears, clubs, and whips assaulted migrants and destroyed their homes. — Lauren Morganbesser, semafor.com, 28 June 2026