as in offenders
a person who has committed a crime
car thieves, pickpockets, burglars, and other criminals
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Recent Examples of criminals
For more than two decades, legal cannabis operators paid taxes under a provision written to punish criminals.
—
Javier Hasse, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
The council vote comes at a time when the Parole Board has allowed the release from prison of dozens of criminals convicted of violent felonies, including first-degree murder.
—Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 20 May 2026
Police now hope residents can help catch these copper criminals in the act.
—Gabriela Vidal, CBS News, 19 May 2026
When unhoused people are treated as criminals, they are pushed into an identity of exclusion rather than belonging.
—Shianne Leclaire, Hartford Courant, 17 May 2026
These are criminals who want to actually access our systems to sow chaos.
—Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 15 May 2026
The season 27 finale begins with Captain Benson and her SVU squad learning the devastating truth that one of their most dangerous criminals — a serial child kidnapper and killer Richard Caine — was released from custody as a result of a procedural mistake.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
The taskforce was originally launched in Houston on October 1, 2025, and the operation led to the arrest of more than 700 repeat offenders who were high-threat criminals and gang members, as well as the confiscation of more than 200,000 doses of fentanyl.
—Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 14 May 2026
However, Connecticut Citizens Defense League President Holly Sullivan told Fox News Digital that statewide Democrats chose to go after law-abiding citizens instead of criminals by passing this piece of legislation.
—Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 9 May 2026
Javier Hasse, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
The council vote comes at a time when the Parole Board has allowed the release from prison of dozens of criminals convicted of violent felonies, including first-degree murder.
—Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 20 May 2026
Police now hope residents can help catch these copper criminals in the act.
—Gabriela Vidal, CBS News, 19 May 2026
When unhoused people are treated as criminals, they are pushed into an identity of exclusion rather than belonging.
—Shianne Leclaire, Hartford Courant, 17 May 2026
These are criminals who want to actually access our systems to sow chaos.
—Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 15 May 2026
The season 27 finale begins with Captain Benson and her SVU squad learning the devastating truth that one of their most dangerous criminals — a serial child kidnapper and killer Richard Caine — was released from custody as a result of a procedural mistake.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
The taskforce was originally launched in Houston on October 1, 2025, and the operation led to the arrest of more than 700 repeat offenders who were high-threat criminals and gang members, as well as the confiscation of more than 200,000 doses of fentanyl.
—Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 14 May 2026
However, Connecticut Citizens Defense League President Holly Sullivan told Fox News Digital that statewide Democrats chose to go after law-abiding citizens instead of criminals by passing this piece of legislation.
—Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 9 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for criminals
offenders
Noun
-
Many of the biggest offenders sit on breakfast tables and lunch plates every day, hiding in plain sight.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
23 May 2026
-
Many offenders even choose incarceration over community supervision requirements.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
23 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Criminals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/criminals. Accessed 27 May. 2026.
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