malefactor

[ mal-uh-fak-ter ]

/ ˈmæl əˌfæk tər /

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noun

a person who violates the law; criminal.

a person who does harm or evil, especially toward another.

Nearby words

malebranche, malecite, maledict, malediction, malefaction, malefactor, malefactress, malefic, maleficence, maleficent, malegaon

Origin of malefactor

1400–50; late Middle English malefactour < Latin malefactor, equivalent to malefac(ere) to act wickedly, do an evil deed (see male-, fact) + -tor -tor

SYNONYMS FOR malefactor

1 felon, culprit.

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ANTONYMS FOR malefactor

2 benefactor.

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Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for malefactor

We had to stand with Ukraine to send a strong message to the malefactor Putin.
The GOP Just Screwed Ukraine Out of Billions to Hurt Obama|Michael Tomasky|March 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Suppose your chance passenger proves to be not an honest subject, but a malefactor—one of a gang.
The Devil's Garden|W. B. Maxwell
Wherefore hast Thou nailed me like a malefactor to the tree?
The Battle Of The Strong, Complete|Gilbert Parker
As for the other malefactor, William Hawksworth, he was a Yorkshireman by birth.
Lives Of The Most Remarkable Criminals Who have been Condemned and Executed for Murder, the Highway, Housebreaking, Street Robberies, Coining or other offences|Arthur L. Hayward

If her maids or the police or both had been more alert, the malefactor would have been arrested.
The Life of Florence Nightingale vol. 2 of 2|Edward Tyas Cook
His rhoomatism's merely that malefactor's way of goin' onder cover.
Faro Nell and Her Friends|Alfred Henry Lewis

British Dictionary definitions for malefactor

malefactor

/ (ˈmælɪˌfæktə) /

noun

a criminal; wrongdoer

Derived Forms

malefaction, nounmalefactress, fem n

Word Origin for malefactor

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