malefactors
Those committing crimes
Malefactors are people who commit crimes or do evil.
The word is formal and somewhat old-fashioned, appearing more often in legal contexts, historical texts, and literary works than in everyday speech: The malefactors were brought before the magistrate.
It carries a weightier moral judgment than simple "criminal."
Serious crime offenders
- convictsImprisoned felons
- outlawsFugitives from justice
- gangstersOrganized crime members
- thievesThose who commit larceny
robbers · burglars · muggers · fraudsters · embezzlers · kidnappers · arsonists · assailants
Dishonest, unscrupulous person
- rogueDishonest or uncontrolled agent
- blackguardContemptible, dishonest person
- knaveDishonest, unprincipled person
- miscreantEvildoer or villain
reprobate · ne'er-do-well · cad · wretch · fiend · evildoer · wrongdoer · culprit
Extremely evil or villainous
- malevolentHarboring ill will
- wickedEvil or slang-excellent
- vileExtremely unpleasant or bad
- heinousOdiously, shockingly evil
sinister · diabolical · fiendish · dastardly · depraved · treacherous · perfidious · despicable
Corrupt payment for influence
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- extortionObtaining through threats
- graftIllicit political gain
kickbacks · nepotism · racketeering · profiteering · cronyism · skimming · backhanders · payola
felons
Serious crime offenders
thieves · robbers · burglars · muggers · fraudsters · embezzlers · kidnappers · arsonists · assailants · pickpockets
scoundrel
Dishonest, unscrupulous person
- rogueDishonest or uncontrolled agent
- blackguardContemptible, dishonest person
- knaveDishonest, unprincipled person
miscreant · reprobate · ne'er-do-well · cad · wretch · fiend · evildoer · wrongdoer · culprit · perpetrator
nefarious
Extremely evil or villainous
- malevolentHarboring ill will
- wickedEvil or slang-excellent
- vileExtremely unpleasant or bad
heinous · sinister · diabolical · fiendish · dastardly · depraved · treacherous · perfidious · despicable · iniquitous
bribery
Corrupt payment for influence
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- extortionObtaining through threats
graft · kickbacks · nepotism · racketeering · profiteering · cronyism · skimming · backhanders · payola · exploitation
malefactorsbenefactors
Givers of aid
do-gooders · philanthropists · saints · innocents · humanitarians
malefactorspolice officers
Sworn law enforcers
protectors · crime fighters · judges · prosecutors · peacekeepers