deserter

[dih-zur-ter] / dɪˈzɜr tər /

NOUN

one who deserts

Synonyms

STRONGEST

defector escapee lawbreaker

STRONG

AWOL absconder apostate backslider betrayer delinquent derelict recreant refugee renegade runaway traitor

WEAK

criminal escaper hooky player no-show truant

Antonyms

STRONG

adherent loyalist

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.

After six weeks, he ran out of money and moved in with another Russian deserter, Yevgeny.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 11, 2024

He would automatically be declared a deserter after 30 days being AWOL, according to military regulations.

From Reuters • Aug. 4, 2023

As a deserter from the Ukrainian army, he would face 10 years in jail if he was caught.

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2023

Spain expelled another deserter, Mohamed Abdellah, a dissident gendarme, to Algeria last August.

From Seattle Times • May 27, 2022

Evacuation orders hadn’t been issued and anyone fleeing East Prussia was branded a deserter.

From "Salt to the Sea" by Ruta Sepetys