offender
One who transgresses
An offender is someone who commits an offense—a wrongdoing, crime, or violation.
Legal contexts dominate: first-time offenders, repeat offenders, sex offenders.
The word implies formal wrongdoing rather than casual error: you're an offender if you break laws or rules, not if you merely annoy someone.
Serious crime perpetrator
- convictJailed offender after trial
- perpetratorOne who commits wrongdoing
- inmateConfined facility resident
- prisonerConfined criminal detainee
recidivist · wrongdoer · malefactor · outlaw · fugitive · jailbird · con · gangster
Violator of moral law
- transgressorOne who violates rules
- trespasserUnlawful entrant on property
- violatorOne who breaks rules
- reprobateUnprincipled person beyond reform
blasphemer · apostate · heretic · backslider · unrepentant · penitent · atonement · forgiveness
One who attacks another
- battererOne who beats others
- attackerOne who strikes first
- aggressorOne who initiates conflict
- murdererOne who unlawfully kills
killer · terrorist · thug · hijacker · bandit · brigand · armed · dangerous
One misappropriating entrusted funds
- fraudsterCriminal deceiver for gain
- swindlerPerson who deceives for money
- forgerOne who fakes documents
- counterfeiterOne who fakes currency
scammer · defaulter · tax evader · money launderer · insider trader · Ponzi · white-collar · restitution
Organism that consumes others
- molesterOne who assaults sexually
- rapistOne who commits assault
- pedophileAdult sexually attracted to children
- abuserOne who mistreats others
registry · notification · Megan's Law · monitoring · GPS tracking · restriction · registration · tier
One driving too quickly
- drunk driverIntoxicated vehicle operator
- DUIImpaired operating charge
- DWIIntoxicated driving charge
- recklessCarelessly ignoring danger
violation · ticket · citation · points · license suspension · breathalyzer · sobriety · hit-and-run
Failing in duty
- troublemakerOne who creates discord
- vandalWillful property destroyer
- hoodlumViolent young criminal
- ruffianViolent, lawless person
rowdy · bully · wayward · incorrigible · maladjusted · reform school · detention · curfew
Believe to be likely
- allegedClaimed but unproven
- indictedFormally charged legally
- implicatedShown to be involved
- chargedFormally accused of crime
arraigned · prosecuted · trial · hearing · bail · plea · counsel · presumption
felon
Serious crime perpetrator
- convictJailed offender after trial
- perpetratorOne who commits wrongdoing
- inmateConfined facility resident
prisoner · recidivist · wrongdoer · malefactor · outlaw · fugitive · jailbird · con · gangster · mobster
sinner
Violator of moral law
- transgressorOne who violates rules
- trespasserUnlawful entrant on property
- violatorOne who breaks rules
reprobate · blasphemer · apostate · heretic · backslider · unrepentant · penitent · atonement · forgiveness · redemption
assailant
One who attacks another
murderer · killer · terrorist · thug · hijacker · bandit · brigand · armed · dangerous · assault
embezzler
One misappropriating entrusted funds
- fraudsterCriminal deceiver for gain
- swindlerPerson who deceives for money
- forgerOne who fakes documents
counterfeiter · scammer · defaulter · tax evader · money launderer · insider trader · Ponzi · white-collar · restitution · fine
predator
Organism that consumes others
- molesterOne who assaults sexually
- rapistOne who commits assault
- pedophileAdult sexually attracted to children
abuser · registry · notification · Megan's Law · monitoring · GPS tracking · restriction · registration · tier · violation
speeder
One driving too quickly
- drunk driverIntoxicated vehicle operator
- DUIImpaired operating charge
- DWIIntoxicated driving charge
reckless · violation · ticket · citation · points · license suspension · breathalyzer · sobriety · hit-and-run · vehicular
delinquent
Failing in duty
- troublemakerOne who creates discord
- vandalWillful property destroyer
- hoodlumViolent young criminal
ruffian · rowdy · bully · wayward · incorrigible · maladjusted · reform school · detention · curfew · truant
suspect
Believe to be likely
- allegedClaimed but unproven
- indictedFormally charged legally
- implicatedShown to be involved
charged · arraigned · prosecuted · trial · hearing · bail · plea · counsel · presumption · evidence
- prisoncell block, inmate, jail, prison, prisoner
- accountabilityaccountability, responsibility, accountable, take responsibility, answerability
- Blameblame, fault, culprit, accusation, guilt-tripping
- rule breakersrulebreaker, transgressor, violator, lawbreaker, wrongdoer
- criminalsmurderer, thief, burglar, criminal, killer
- domestic abusedomestic violence, battering, batterer, spousal abuse, wife beating
offendernonoffender
Person who breaks no laws
innocent · lawman · law enforcer · saint · police officer
offendervictim
One harmed by another
injured party · sufferer · complainant · survivor · target
offenderpillar of the community
Respected local leader
exemplar · benefactor · philanthropist · conformist · straight arrow
- repeat offenderPerson repeatedly convicted
- easily offendedProne to taking umbrage
- sex offenderOne convicted of sexual crimes
- habitual offenderPersistent lawbreaker
- juvenile offendersMinors who commit crimes
- first offenderNewly convicted person
offend, offended, offending, offends, offenders, unoffended, reoffender, reoffenders, nonoffender