misdemeanor

noun

Definition of misdemeanornext
as in crime
law a criminal act that is less serious than a felony He was charged with committing a misdemeanor. a misdemeanor traffic violation

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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 misdemeanor Under California’s vehicle code, hit-and-run collisions that lead to property damage but no injuries are classified as misdemeanors. — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 5 July 2026 Chestnut competed in the event while serving a 180-day probation sentence after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor battery charge stemming from drunkenly slapping a man in an Indiana bar earlier this year. — Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026 Court records from Davidson County, Tennessee, showed an improper vehicle lighting and speeding charge, both misdemeanors, for Johnson in 2023. — Lucas Finton, USA Today, 6 July 2026 Lateshia Adams, 45, pleaded guilty in May to criminal recklessness, a Level 6 felony, and misdemeanor operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person. — Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for misdemeanor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misdemeanor
  1. crime
  2. violation
  3. trespass
  4. misconduct
Noun
  • He was convicted of that crime and given 96 months of probation, according to the press release.
    — Mary Ella Hastings July 3, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 July 2026
  • In a press release, Bonta reiterated his commitment to combating hate in California, and said the data obtained are accessible and critical to stopping such crimes in the state.
    — Jazmin Alvarado, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
Definition of crime
Noun
  • Lawyers in the gas station lawsuit assert that technology is enabling antitrust violations.
    — Audrey McGlinchy, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • Beijing has and been accused of serious human violations, including large-scale arbitrary detention of Uyghur and other Muslim minorities, in Xinjiang.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 1 July 2026
Definition of violation
Noun
  • Police arrested the pair on charges of burglary, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, criminal trespass, criminal tampering, possession of burglar's tools, disorderly conduct and other offenses.
    — Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
  • Both face multiple charges -- including burglary, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, criminal trespass, violation of a local law, criminal tampering, disorderly conduct and possession of burglar's tools -- according to police.
    — Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 1 July 2026
Definition of trespass
Noun
  • Heather Diehl | Getty Images More broadly, there can also be data-matching issues with Social Security numbers in ACA marketplace enrollment — meaning the lack of SSN may be a data issue, not misconduct, Oberlander said.
    — Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 3 July 2026
  • Allegations of employee misconduct are taken seriously and investigated thoroughly.
    — DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 2 July 2026
Definition of misconduct

Browse Nearby Words

misdemeanants
misdemeanor
misdemeanors
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Cite this Entry

“Misdemeanor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misdemeanor. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on misdemeanor

Nglish: Translation of misdemeanor for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about misdemeanor

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