defected

[dih-fek-tid] / dɪˈfɛk tɪd /

VERB

break from belief, faith

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abandon abscond depart desert pull out quit reject renounce revolt withdraw

STRONG

apostatize forsake go lapse leave rat rebel renege schism spurn tergiversate turn

WEAK

back out break faith change sides fall away from go back on go over go over the fence run out sell out take a walk tergiverse turn coat walk out on

Antonyms

STRONGEST

allow approve come continue persevere remain stay support

WEAK

come in join

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Zahawi joins a growing list of senior Conservatives who have defected to Reform.

From BBC

So far no senior government or military figures have defected or spoken out against leadership, even as the crackdown on demonstrators has intensified.

From The Wall Street Journal

“As an athlete you are always told you are engaging in a war of speed, skill and grit,” said Jeong, 31, who defected to the South in 2012 by darting across the Korean Demilitarized Zone.

From The Wall Street Journal

Five Labour councillors in Brent in north London defected to the Green Party a couple of weeks ago.

From BBC

Raised in Uganda by a British mother and father who were both physicians, he was a Conservative member of Parliament until he defected to the United Kingdom Independence Party.

From The Wall Street Journal