OFFENDERS Synonyms: 52 Similar and Opposite Words

offenders

noun

plural of offender

as in criminals

a person who has committed a crime juvenile offenders have their criminal records sealed when they turn 18

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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 offenders Research on offenders with mental disorders suggests that recidivism depends more on criminal history than on diagnosis. — Leigh Egan, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026 At the root of the crisis is inadequate laws to punish offenders and a poor judicial system, activists say. — ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026 During the debate, Bailey restated his opposition to the state’s elimination of cash bail for nonviolent offenders and to sanctuary policies on immigrants that limit cooperation between state and local police and federal immigration authorities. — Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026 Because of those non-monetary bail releases, Robertson alleges several violent offenders were allowed to go free and then went on to allegedly commit more violent attacks. — Josh Taylor, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026 World’s Most Evil Prisoners takes a look at offenders doing life sentences, who go on to torture, kidnap and even kill while inside. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2026 Too often, special occasions can feel like an excuse to buy a new outfit; weddings are the worst offenders. — Corinne Pierre-Louis, Vogue, 7 Oct. 2026 Burton Brown and other supporters argued that the measure was focused on violent offenders, not immigrants living peacefully in the United States. — Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 6 Oct. 2026 Wiener has passed laws protecting net neutrality, capping prescription costs and mandating mental health parity, ending mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenders, and requiring corporations disclose their greenhouse gas emissions. — Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for offenders

Noun

That same month, criminals nabbed a $4 million diamond necklace from Vienna’s Museum of Applied Arts (MAK).

— Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026
For decades, Hollywood actor Danny Trejo’s bread and butter was playing gangsters, prison inmates and other assorted criminals.

— Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of criminals

Noun

Researchers looked at a wide range of possible culprits behind neck pain, including demographic, occupational, lifestyle, postural, technology and psychological factors.

— Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2026
The two-part November 13, Sonia’s Choice recounts the true story of a woman at the heart of the hunt for the culprits of the Paris terror attacks on November 13, 2015, who is now living in hiding.

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of culprits

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offender

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“Offenders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offenders. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of offenders

noun

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