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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Recent Examples of felons
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
They also were charged with being felons in possession of a weapon.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 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
Lawsuits help felons get their guns back A majority of the 22 individuals named in February by the attorney general had their rights restored after applying for full pardons at the department.
—Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
Of those arrested, 105 were convicted felons, and 61 were documented gang members.
—CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
Again, the outcome could easily have been different if voting rights for former felons were a given.
—Kevin B. Smith, The Conversation, 2 Mar. 2026
But as legacy media recedes, a growing cohort of famous felons are leveraging new media to rehab their images.
—Andrew Zucker, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026
Even for felons, who’ve received a huge number of pardons over the past year.
—Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 5 Feb. 2026
Adriana E. Ramírez, Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2026
They also were charged with being felons in possession of a weapon.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 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
Lawsuits help felons get their guns back A majority of the 22 individuals named in February by the attorney general had their rights restored after applying for full pardons at the department.
—Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
Of those arrested, 105 were convicted felons, and 61 were documented gang members.
—CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
Again, the outcome could easily have been different if voting rights for former felons were a given.
—Kevin B. Smith, The Conversation, 2 Mar. 2026
But as legacy media recedes, a growing cohort of famous felons are leveraging new media to rehab their images.
—Andrew Zucker, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026
Even for felons, who’ve received a huge number of pardons over the past year.
—Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 5 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for felons
Noun
-
Many of the toughest criminals taken into ICE custody were already in prison, but many others who were arrested have no criminal history.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
25 Apr. 2026
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In the furthest part of space lies Dante 01, a detention facility that houses criminals who have committed the most shocking crimes imaginable.—
Sergio Pereira,
Space.com,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Court records show Abugharbieh entered into a diversion program for first-time offenders charged with misdemeanors.—
Holly Ramer,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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Court records show Abugharbeih entered into a diversion program for first-time offenders charged with misdemeanors.—
Claudia Lauer,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Felons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/felons. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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