"Lawbreaker" vs. "transgressor": words weighing guilt

Reviewed and edited by

Lloyd Cooper 08/11/2024, 13:08

English.me team member

Lawbreaker and transgressor. What's the difference?

What is similar?

Both words refer to an individual who violates rules or laws. They are often used in contexts relating to legal and moral infractions.

What is different?

"Lawbreaker" specifically implies breaking formal laws or legal codes. "Transgressor" can refer to violations of laws, rules, or ethical boundaries and is often used more broadly or metaphorically.

Which one is more common?

Examples of usage

Lawbreaker

The police arrested the lawbreaker for vandalizing the property.
As a lawbreaker, he faced severe penalties for his actions.
The judge considered him a repeat lawbreaker and imposed a harsher sentence.

Transgressor

In many cultures, a transgressor must seek forgiveness for their actions.
The community shunned the transgressor for violating their moral standards.
She admitted to being a transgressor and vowed to make amends.