malefactor
[mal-uh-fak-ter]
- a person who violates the law; criminal.
- a person who does harm or evil, especially toward another.
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Origin of malefactor
Synonyms
See more synonyms for malefactor on Thesaurus.com1. felon, culprit.
Antonyms
2. benefactor.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for malefactor
Contemporary Examples
We had to stand with Ukraine to send a strong message to the malefactor Putin.
Historical Examples
Even supposing that Joggi were the malefactor, where was the rest of that money?
Rico and WiseliJohanna Spyri
Like a malefactor out on bail, he was painting a picture for the future.
A Breath of Prairie and other storiesWill Lillibridge
His rhoomatism's merely that malefactor's way of goin' onder cover.
Faro Nell and Her FriendsAlfred Henry Lewis
In this way, secured like a malefactor, I was ordered forward.
Jack HintonCharles James Lever
Pizarro acquired the mastery of Peru by the act of a malefactor.
Ferdinand De Soto, The Discoverer of the MississippiJohn S. C. Abbott
malefactor
- a criminal; wrongdoer
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Word Origin
C15: via Old French from Latin, from malefacere to do evil
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for malefactor
n.
mid-15c., from Latin malefactor, agent noun from past participle stem of malefacere "to do evil," from male "badly" (see mal-) + facere "to perform" (see factitious).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper