felons

noun

plural of felon
as in criminals
a person who has committed a serious crime The convicted felon wanted to make amends after his release from jail.

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of felons They also were charged with being felons in possession of a weapon. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026 They are convicted felons, after all. — Gerard S. Williams, Sun Sentinel, 21 June 2026 While body armor is legal for most Americans to own, felons with a history of violence are barred from possessing it. — Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026 Four people voted despite being felons, one voted twice, and one, only one, voted despite being a non-citizen. — Adriana E. Ramírez, Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2026 Even felons — the Menendez brothers for example, and the late Jeffrey Epstein — are free to seek federal office; only the states have prohibitions against felon candidates. — Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026 Lawsuits against states' firearm rules The federal government generally only sets the floor for firearm use and transactions, regulating issues such as background checks, barring most felons from having guns, and establishing rules for dealer licenses. — Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 20 May 2026 Growing the colony For the first 52 years of the colony’s existence, New South Wales continued to receive regular consignments of felons, largely consisting of people who had been found guilty of property crimes. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Mar. 2026 Kochen’s defense attorneys argued that the magnitude of their client’s crime was not nearly as egregious as that of hundreds of other Medicare fraud felons in South Florida, which is recognized as the healthcare-fraud capital of the United States. — Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 10 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for felons
  1. criminals
  2. offenders
Noun
  • Supporters will argue that criminals should not be able to hide behind wallets.
    — Susie Violet Ward, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • And just like Alito, some members of my family have forgotten our history and support Trump or favor some of his immigration policies, dismissing new arrivals as criminals or lazy.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of criminals
Noun
  • Independence Day celebrations come in the most challenging threat environment since 9/11, with the ongoing terror threat, a rise in political violence and continuing fears about lone-wolf offenders, according to Raia.
    — Luke Barr, ABC News, 3 July 2026
  • There were also concerns listed in the analysis that the registry, which dates back to 1947, could include LGBTQ+ offenders from decades ago who were convicted of offenses that are no longer crimes.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of offenders

Browse Nearby Words

felonious
felons
felony
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Cite this Entry

“Felons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/felons. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on felons

Nglish: Translation of felons for Spanish Speakers

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