as in crimes
law
a serious criminal act (such as murder or rape)
The crime is considered a felony under state law. He was convicted of committing a felony.
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Recent Examples of felonies
Fred Joe Ruiz, 55, pleaded guilty Wednesday, March 11, to two counts of burglary and one count each of grand theft and theft of property, all felonies.
—
City News Service, Oc Register, 14 Mar. 2026
He was charged in December with nine felonies, including statutory rape, first-degree burglary, and assault causing bodily injury.
—Charlotte Observer, 12 Mar. 2026
If the judge were to enforce consecutive sentences on just the felonies alone, her sentencing range spans from 33 years in prison to a theoretical — though highly unlikely — term nearly three times as long.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026
She was charged with two felonies related to allegedly assaulting an officer and spent the night in jail.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2026
The Independence Police Department could soon adopt a more restrictive vehicle pursuit policy after its interim chief recommended limiting chases to violent felonies.
—Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 11 Mar. 2026
Jonatan Nanita, the 11-year-old’s mother’s then-boyfriend, pleaded not guilty to several felonies related to the child’s death, including kidnapping and murder charges.
—Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026
The program would disqualify people convicted of violent felonies and domestic violence.
—Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
Contreras-Mujica took a separate deal and pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and criminally negligent homicide, both felonies, court records show.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2026
City News Service, Oc Register, 14 Mar. 2026
He was charged in December with nine felonies, including statutory rape, first-degree burglary, and assault causing bodily injury.
—Charlotte Observer, 12 Mar. 2026
If the judge were to enforce consecutive sentences on just the felonies alone, her sentencing range spans from 33 years in prison to a theoretical — though highly unlikely — term nearly three times as long.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026
She was charged with two felonies related to allegedly assaulting an officer and spent the night in jail.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2026
The Independence Police Department could soon adopt a more restrictive vehicle pursuit policy after its interim chief recommended limiting chases to violent felonies.
—Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 11 Mar. 2026
Jonatan Nanita, the 11-year-old’s mother’s then-boyfriend, pleaded not guilty to several felonies related to the child’s death, including kidnapping and murder charges.
—Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026
The program would disqualify people convicted of violent felonies and domestic violence.
—Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
Contreras-Mujica took a separate deal and pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and criminally negligent homicide, both felonies, court records show.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for felonies
Noun
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Actresses of a certain age are henceforth barred from investigating crimes on TV.—
Graham Hillard,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Mar. 2026
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But opposition leaders have described the proposal as an effort to erase the crimes committed in the prison, where inmates were often isolated for months at a time, and tortured by agents seeking information on the activities of opposition activists.—
Manuel Rueda,
NPR,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The pattern of trespasses at Mar-a-Lago culminated in a dramatic security incident on Sunday, when an armed man carrying what appeared to be a shotgun and a fuel can breached the perimeter.—
WPEC Staff,
Baltimore Sun,
23 Feb. 2026
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These seem like minor trespasses, but when no one feels comfortable telling the truth, the influence such behavior has on the 12-year-old Janna becomes concerning.—
Stephen Saito,
Variety,
5 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The charges cited in the complaint are misdemeanors, which carry less serious penalties than felonies.—
Bloomberg Wire,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Mar. 2026
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Perhaps the saddest was the case of a Garden Grove gas station owner who was convicted of misdemeanors for illegally giving customers preferential treatment.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Felonies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/felonies. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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