as in offenders
a person who is being sued or accused of a crime in a court of law
The jury believed that the defendant was guilty.
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Recent Examples of defendants
Data from the Circuit Clerk of Cook County shows that 246 out of 3,048 defendants released pre-trial and placed on ankle monitoring are missing and aren't actively wearing their ankle monitor.
—
Adam Sabes , Michael Tobin, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
Apparently unbeknownst to the defendants, the meeting continued recording the next hour of interactions between the brothers.
—Nate Anderson, ArsTechnica, 14 May 2026
That case charged a handful of Florida defendants with stealing more than 600 outboard boat engines and vessels from the Tampa area and shipping them to the migrant smugglers in the Quintana Roo area.
—Jay Weaver
may 14, Miami Herald, 14 May 2026
Authored by Keaton Smith of Whitewood Law, the complaint details NASCAR’s efforts to try to find actual names and physical addresses for the defendants.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 14 May 2026
Federal prosecutors say the defendants — Elijah Armstrong, 21; Nino Chindavanh, 21; and Jayden Rucker, 25 — all from the Nashville area, swept across several California cities in a little more than a month.
—Andy Rose, CNN Money, 14 May 2026
Blackman and his co-defendants were originally indicted in 2023, under the Biden administration.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 14 May 2026
Three more defendants are awaiting extradition to San Diego.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2026
Actor Q’orianka Kilcher, 36, filed her complaint against filmmaker James Cameron — and several co-defendants, including Disney — this week in California Central District Court.
—Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026
Adam Sabes , Michael Tobin, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
Apparently unbeknownst to the defendants, the meeting continued recording the next hour of interactions between the brothers.
—Nate Anderson, ArsTechnica, 14 May 2026
That case charged a handful of Florida defendants with stealing more than 600 outboard boat engines and vessels from the Tampa area and shipping them to the migrant smugglers in the Quintana Roo area.
—Jay Weaver
may 14, Miami Herald, 14 May 2026
Authored by Keaton Smith of Whitewood Law, the complaint details NASCAR’s efforts to try to find actual names and physical addresses for the defendants.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 14 May 2026
Federal prosecutors say the defendants — Elijah Armstrong, 21; Nino Chindavanh, 21; and Jayden Rucker, 25 — all from the Nashville area, swept across several California cities in a little more than a month.
—Andy Rose, CNN Money, 14 May 2026
Blackman and his co-defendants were originally indicted in 2023, under the Biden administration.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 14 May 2026
Three more defendants are awaiting extradition to San Diego.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2026
Actor Q’orianka Kilcher, 36, filed her complaint against filmmaker James Cameron — and several co-defendants, including Disney — this week in California Central District Court.
—Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defendants
Noun
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Those players were found guilty of tax evasion but avoided prison time thanks to a provision that allows a judge to waive sentences under two years in length for first-time offenders.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 May 2026
-
Now, a new dashboard shows the worst offenders.—
Jack Flemming,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
Noun
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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
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That’s the job of law enforcement, who make arrests, judges who sentence criminals to pay for their crimes, and a parole board that cares about public safety.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
15 May 2026
Noun
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Two suspects hit several businesses in the Fairfax District early Tuesday morning, with one suspect in police custody.—
Julie Sharp,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
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Deem fired his weapon at the suspects, but no injuries were reported, and the disturbance suspect has not been apprehended.—
Jade Jackson,
IndyStar,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defendants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defendants. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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