OFFENDER Synonyms: 50 Similar and Opposite Words

offender

noun

Definition of offender

as in criminal

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 offender At the same hearing, a fifth defendant, Subhan Ahmed, 18, pleaded not guilty to a charge of assisting an offender. — Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026 Hisbah members also face widespread allegations of rights abuses in their enforcement operations, including subjecting offenders to dehumanizing punishments such as public beatings or shaming. — ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026 Its recent report says organized crime groups are increasingly involved in cultural-property theft, with offenders using tools like explosives and firearms. — George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 28 Aug. 2026 The Office of Youth and Community Restoration was created to oversee California’s shift to a county-run juvenile justice system after a 2020 law moved responsibility for youth offenders from state facilities to counties. — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 26 Aug. 2026 When an offender’s circumstances overshadow accountability, explanations can become excuses and consequences lose meaning. — Laurie Myers, Boston Herald, 26 Aug. 2026 When federal law enforcement takes violent offenders off our streets and lawfully removes them from our country, that makes our communities safer. — Bryan Lynn, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 Hansen’s sentence was first reduced to 25 years to life, and the state later created a pathway to earlier parole for many youthful offenders serving life sentences. — Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026 Social services, including counseling programs for young criminal offenders, receive less than 2 cents from every dollar of property taxes. — Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for offender

Noun

Throughout the bar are blurbs of information on cases and criminals, researched by Rose and the team.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 29 Aug. 2026
When criminals are behind bars, their victims should finally be safe from them.

— Caden Perry, jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of criminal

Noun

Over the years, culprits have ranged from El Niño and climate change to the World Trade Organization, rock ‘n’ roll music and the fluoridation of water.

— Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Steven Tian and Stephen Henriques, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026
Dakik flagged artificial sweeteners and excess caffeine as culprits.

— Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of culprit

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offended

offender

offenders

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“Offender.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offender. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of offender

noun

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