defector

noun

Definition of defectornext
as in deserter
a person who abandons a cause or organization usually without right the defector demanded political asylum in exchange for information about his nation's spying operations

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for defector
  1. deserter
  2. traitor
  3. renegade
  4. rebel
  5. insurgent
Noun
  • Rachel knows that William is too good to be a deserter.
    Lincee Ray, EW.com, 30 Nov. 2024
  • Still, the officer harbors no ill will toward deserters.
    Samya Kullab and Volodymyr Yurchuk, Los Angeles Times, 29 Nov. 2024
Definition of deserter
Noun
  • Three ‘traitors’ are given the opportunity to ‘murder’ contestants, while remaining ‘faithfuls’ have to smoke them out, and the group compete in daily challenges to keep the prize fund steady.
    Max Goldbart, Deadline, 26 Nov. 2024
  • Like Trump, Carlson appeals to his base by positioning himself as a class traitor—not a man of the people, exactly, but an apostate from the cosmopolitan élite.
    Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2024
Definition of traitor
Noun
  • The collection blends his brand’s bold renegade aesthetic with the hotel’s classic luxury heritage.
    Ritu Upadhyay, WWD, 13 Dec. 2024
  • At the center of it all is Tom Cruise returning to one of his most iconic roles as the titular renegade aviator, the years not diluting his spirit so much as making his brashness far more interesting.
    David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 19 Nov. 2024
Definition of renegade
Noun
  • Israel, Iran race to cement relations with Syrian rebels The sudden fall this weekend of the Assad regime, long backed by Iran and allied with its proxy forces in the region, represented a welcome development for Netanyahu.
    Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 10 Dec. 2024
  • As Bashar al-Assad's government collapsed and Syrian rebels rose to power, Israel embarked on an extensive bombing campaign, purportedly aimed at disarming extremists who may rise to power during the unrest.
    Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
Definition of rebel
Noun
  • The country is now largely under the control of an insurgent group named Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS.
    Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024
  • Initially a religious movement focused on promoting Yemen's Zaidi Shiite Muslim community, Ansar Allah grew into a powerful insurgent group that captured large swathes of northern territory, including Sanaa, between late 2014 and early 2015.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
Definition of insurgent
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Thesaurus Entries Near defector

defectiveness

defector

defectors

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“Defector.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defector. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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More from Merriam-Webster on defector

Nglish: Translation of defector for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of defector for Arabic Speakers

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