variants
or whistle-blowers
as in informants
a person who provides information about another's wrongdoing
there are laws to protect whistle-blowers who reveal corporate malfeasance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 whistleblowers
With the help of whistleblowers, the new administration has a chance to make a real impact by demonstrating its commitment to good governance and the integrity of the city’s tax dollars.
—
Randall Fox, New York Daily News, 1 Jan. 2026
One of the whistleblowers, a policy strategist named Joshua Haver, also alleged that the Idaho commissioners and utility executives had gathered privately weeks before the conference, in violation of Idaho’s open-records laws.
—Nick Bowlin, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Farmer, one of the earliest public whistleblowers against Epstein, said Friday the bureau failed her, and other victims, by not pursuing her allegations.
—Josh Meyer, USA Today, 20 Dec. 2025
Each man was also ordered to pay $9,500 to the Lacey Act Reward Fund, which funds payments made to whistleblowers in wildlife crimes, and $15,000 in restitution to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.
—Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 19 Dec. 2025
In this moment of democratic backsliding, whistleblowers show that civil disobedience – breaking the law to uphold the public good – remains an essential principle of political and moral life.
—Kate Kenny, The Conversation, 15 Dec. 2025
Grassley rejected that criticism, saying whistleblowers call him regardless of who is in the White House.
—Joshua Goodman, Fortune, 14 Dec. 2025
Randall Fox, New York Daily News, 1 Jan. 2026
One of the whistleblowers, a policy strategist named Joshua Haver, also alleged that the Idaho commissioners and utility executives had gathered privately weeks before the conference, in violation of Idaho’s open-records laws.
—Nick Bowlin, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Farmer, one of the earliest public whistleblowers against Epstein, said Friday the bureau failed her, and other victims, by not pursuing her allegations.
—Josh Meyer, USA Today, 20 Dec. 2025
Each man was also ordered to pay $9,500 to the Lacey Act Reward Fund, which funds payments made to whistleblowers in wildlife crimes, and $15,000 in restitution to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.
—Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 19 Dec. 2025
In this moment of democratic backsliding, whistleblowers show that civil disobedience – breaking the law to uphold the public good – remains an essential principle of political and moral life.
—Kate Kenny, The Conversation, 15 Dec. 2025
Grassley rejected that criticism, saying whistleblowers call him regardless of who is in the White House.
—Joshua Goodman, Fortune, 14 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whistleblowers
Noun
-
Jacobsen, who was appointed chief in 2022, is suspected of stealing money from a department fund that was created to pay confidential informants.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
6 Jan. 2026
-
In a separate court filing submitted Monday, Cole’s attorneys also demanded broad discovery, including all statements attributed to him, investigative notes, information about the FBI’s use of informants to identify Cole as a suspect, and any exculpatory material.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
29 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Like canaries in the coal mine ocean form.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
16 Oct. 2025
-
During the late 19th and early 20th century, coal miners in Europe and North America used canaries as living carbon monoxide alarms.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Whistleblowers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whistleblowers. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
