Wrongdoer: meaning, definitions and examples

General term for someone who does something morally or legally wrong. It can be used in both serious and minor situations.

• The wrongdoer was finally caught by the police.
• She forgave the wrongdoer for breaking her trust.

General term for someone who violates laws or regulations. Often used in legal or formal contexts, and it includes both minor and serious offenses.

• First-time offenders may receive lighter sentences.
• The repeat offender was sentenced to a longer prison term.

Identifies a person responsible for a crime or misdeed. Often used when the person has been identified but not yet proven guilty. Can be used in both serious and everyday contexts.

• The culprit behind the vandalism was caught on camera.
• After hours of searching, they found the culprit who ate the last cookie.

Refers to someone who has committed a crime. It is often used in serious legal contexts and can have a strong negative connotation.

• The criminal was convicted of bank robbery.
• The police are searching for the criminal involved in the crime.

A general term used for someone who does something morally or legally wrong. Suitable for describing a person involved in any kind of wrongdoing without specifying the nature or severity.

• The wrongdoer was quickly identified and brought to justice.
• No wrongdoer should go unpunished.

Used to describe someone who breaks the law. It works well in legal, criminal justice, or everyday conversations when discussing someone who has committed a crime, irrespective of its severity.

• Lawbreakers will face strict penalties under the new legislation.
• The police conducted a raid to catch the lawbreakers.

Typically used in more formal or religious contexts to describe someone who violates moral or religious rules. It can also be used in a legal sense to denote someone who has overstepped specific boundaries.

• He was regarded as a transgressor by his community for his unconventional beliefs.
• In many cultures, transgressors of sacred laws are often shunned.

Commonly refers to a young person, usually a teenager, who shows a tendency to commit minor crimes or misbehave. Often used in social or legal contexts involving juveniles.

• The city has several programs aimed at helping delinquent youths.
• Her son was becoming increasingly delinquent, skipping school and getting into trouble.