malefactor
One who transgresses
A malefactor is a person who commits crimes or does evil.
The word is formal and somewhat old-fashioned, appearing more often in legal documents, religious texts, and literary contexts than in everyday speech: The malefactors were brought before the judge.
It carries a weight of moral condemnation beyond simple lawbreaking.
One who causes harm
- wrongdoerPerson who misbehaves
- scoundrelDishonest, unscrupulous person
- villainWicked story antagonist
- antagonistOne who opposes another
miscreant · knave · blackguard · fiend · rogue · reprobate · ne'er-do-well · cad
Serious crime perpetrator
- convictJailed offender after trial
- offenderOne who breaks rules
- culpritPerson found guilty
- lawbreakerOne who commits crimes
perpetrator · thief · robber · burglar · fraudster · arsonist · smuggler · poacher
Organized crime member
- mafiosoOrganized crime syndicate member
- banditArmed roadside thief
- hitmanProfessional paid murderer
- enforcerOne who ensures compliance
kingpin · capo · brigand · desperado · hoodlum · goon · ruffian · thug
Profound moral wickedness
- wickednessMoral corruption or evil
- maliceIntent to cause harm
- spitePetty malicious intent
- nefariousnessExtreme moral corruption
villainy · iniquity · depravity · cruelty · viciousness · sinister · diabolical · heinous
Punishable illegal act
- felonySerious criminal offense
- offenseViolation or umbrage
- transgressionViolation of law or code
- wrongdoingUnethical or illegal action
trespass · infraction · violation · misdemeanor · sin · iniquity · malfeasance · atrocity
evildoer
One who causes harm
antagonist · miscreant · knave · blackguard · fiend · rogue · reprobate · ne'er-do-well · cad · wretch
felon
Serious crime perpetrator
lawbreaker · perpetrator · thief · robber · burglar · fraudster · arsonist · smuggler · poacher · kidnapper
mobster
Organized crime member
enforcer · kingpin · capo · brigand · desperado · hoodlum · goon · ruffian · thug · henchman
evil
Profound moral wickedness
- wickednessMoral corruption or evil
- maliceIntent to cause harm
- spitePetty malicious intent
nefariousness · villainy · iniquity · depravity · cruelty · viciousness · sinister · diabolical · heinous · nefarious
crime
Punishable illegal act
- felonySerious criminal offense
- offenseViolation or umbrage
- transgressionViolation of law or code
wrongdoing · trespass · infraction · violation · misdemeanor · sin · iniquity · malfeasance · atrocity · outrage
- rule breakersrulebreaker, transgressor, violator, offender, lawbreaker
- criminalsmurderer, thief, burglar, criminal, killer
- old insultsknave, varlet, scoundrel, rogue, blackguard
- scoundrelsscoundrel, rogue, knave, cad, villain
- suspectssuspect, accused, prime suspect, person of interest, alleged
malefactorbenefactor
One who gives aid
do-gooder · saint · angel · philanthropist · hero
malefactorlawman
Enforcement officer
police officer · law enforcer · gangbuster · crime fighter · detective