perpetrator
One who did it
A perpetrator is someone who commits a crime, harmful act, or other deed—usually something bad.
The word appears most often in legal and journalistic contexts: Police are searching for the perpetrator.
Informally shortened to perp: The perp fled on foot.
Unlike "suspect," perpetrator implies the person actually did it.
Serious crime perpetrator
- convictJailed offender after trial
- lawbreakerOne who commits crimes
- malefactorOne who does harm
- offenderOne who breaks rules
wrongdoer · transgressor · delinquent · thief · burglar · robber · fraudster · embezzler
One who strikes first
- assailantOne who attacks another
- aggressorOne who initiates conflict
- abuserOne who mistreats others
- offenderOne who breaks rules
assaulter · striker · batterer · harasser · tormentor · bully · victimizer · predator
One held responsible
- accusedCharged with wrongdoing
- suspectBelieve to be likely
- defendantParty facing charges
- wrongdoerPerson who misbehaves
violator · infractor · blameworthy · liable · accountable · at fault · implicated · indicted
One who organizes complex efforts
- instigatorOne who provokes action
- plotterMachinator or diagram machine
- schemerCrafty, deceitful planner
- conspiratorOne planning in secret
ringleader · architect · planner · manipulator · strategist · organizer · brains · director
felon
Serious crime perpetrator
- convictJailed offender after trial
- lawbreakerOne who commits crimes
- malefactorOne who does harm
offender · wrongdoer · transgressor · delinquent · thief · burglar · robber · fraudster · embezzler · assailant
attacker
One who strikes first
offender · assaulter · striker · batterer · harasser · tormentor · bully · victimizer · predator · stalker
guilty party
One held responsible
wrongdoer · violator · infractor · blameworthy · liable · accountable · at fault · implicated · indicted · charged
orchestrator
One who organizes complex efforts
- instigatorOne who provokes action
- plotterMachinator or diagram machine
- schemerCrafty, deceitful planner
conspirator · ringleader · architect · planner · manipulator · strategist · organizer · brains · director · puppeteer
- crimerobbery, accomplice, alibi, burglary, conspiracy
- mysteryclue, detective, suspect, clues, sleuth
- mystery fictionwhodunit, whodunnit, sleuth, murder mystery, detective novel
- true crimetrue crime, cold case, crime docs, unsolved mystery, murder mystery
- accountabilityaccountability, responsibility, accountable, take responsibility, answerability
- Blameblame, fault, culprit, accusation, guilt-tripping
perpetratorvictim
One harmed by another
sufferer · injured party · target · casualty · prey
perpetratorlaw enforcer
One who upholds statutes
law enforcement · police officer · detective · constable · investigator
- single perpetratorOne person responsible
perpetrate, perpetration, perpetrated, perpetrating, perpetrators, perpetrates, perpetrations