PLAINTIFF Synonyms: 11 Similar and Opposite Words

plaintiff

noun

ˈplān-təf

Definition of plaintiff

as in complainant

the person in a legal proceeding who makes a charge of wrongdoing against another the judge ruled that the plaintiff's lawsuit was groundless, and he dismissed it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 plaintiff The plaintiffs’ lawyers, Boies Schiller Flexner, and Edwards Henderson, will receive attorneys’ fees worth 30% of the settlement amount. — Charlotte Observer, 31 Aug. 2026 In failing to appreciate as much, the Court misconceives the plaintiff's injury, allowing the Executive’s likely infringement of the Legislature’s power of the purse and authority to regulate federal property in the District of Columbia to continue. — Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026 The plaintiffs are the respective publishing arms of Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group. — Corbin Bolies, Variety, 31 Aug. 2026 Jason Henry | Bloomberg | Getty Images The Meta settlement came just over a week into a federal trial in Oakland, California, that was co-led on the plaintiff side by California AG Rob Bonta. — Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for plaintiff

Recent Examples of Synonyms for plaintiff

Noun

The Crown Prosecution Service declined the offer to safeguard the complainants, the filing says.

— Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026
Richard Luker, who served as the school’s head of science in the late 1980s, testified that the first complainant’s mother raised concerns that her son was planning to travel abroad with Bowen at the end of the school term.

— Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of complainant

Noun

An accuser known as Victim 10, who testified for the prosecution at Sandusky's trial, is now prepared to tell the court Sandusky did not abuse him.

— Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 27 Aug. 2026
This disclosure prompted church leadership to meet with the accuser and her mother, which ultimately resulted in a report to the child abuse hotline that same month.

— John Lynch, Arkansas Online, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of accuser

Noun

Commercial cases are more complex, typically involving hundreds of pages of appraisals and legalese from the appellant.

— Alex Nitkin, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
If the appeals court affirms the conviction, the handbook says the appellant can then petition the United States Supreme Court for a certiorari review.

— Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 12 May 2026

Definition of appellant

Browse Nearby Words

plaint

plaintiff

plaintiffs

See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

Style

“Plaintiff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plaintiff. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of plaintiff

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on plaintiff

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

matriculate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes