criminal 1 of 2

adjective

ˈkri-mə-nᵊl How to pronounce criminal (audio)
Definition of criminalnext
as in illegal
contrary to or forbidden by law people should know with certainty that criminal behavior will be punished

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

criminal

2 of 2

noun

as in offender
a person who has committed a crime car thieves, pickpockets, burglars, and other criminals

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of criminal
Adjective
Despite prosecutors citing Bjornholt's criminal history in arguing for a larger bond, the judge said the state's preliminary evidence relied heavily on hearsay and set Bjornholt's bond at $100,000, according to FOX 10. — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026 The area is under the control of two heavily armed criminal groups, 400 Mawozo and Chen Mechan. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026
Noun
He is thrust into a world of dangerous criminals, impossible odds, and life-altering choices, ultimately forced to decide what his own life is worth. — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026 Then criminals allegedly obtain a massive collection of data anyway. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for criminal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for criminal
  1. unlawful
  2. offender
  3. illicit
  4. felonious
  5. wrongful
Adjective
  • The complaint seeks a declaration that DeWine’s executive order is unlawful.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Paporakis faces one felony count of making a terrorist threat and one felony count of unlawful possession of a weapon.
    — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of unlawful
Noun
  • Research on offenders with mental disorders suggests that recidivism depends more on criminal history than on diagnosis.
    — Leigh Egan, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • At the root of the crisis is inadequate laws to punish offenders and a poor judicial system, activists say.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of offender
Adjective
  • From December 2024 to May 2025, the international law enforcement body Interpol conducted Operation Pangea XVII, in which authorities in 90 countries seized more than 50 million doses of illicit pharmaceuticals.
    — Andrew Yockey, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Participants were also asked about their alcohol consumption, smoking and illicit drug use.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of illicit
Adjective
  • Joshua Shakur Leroy Cawthon, 18, was charged with one count of first-degree animal killing or torturing, one count of felonious assault, and one count of domestic violence.
    — Karma Sabbah, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The two were sentenced in Michigan to one year of probation in December 2025, and pleaded guilty to felonious telecommunications fraud in Ohio in 2022.
    — Joseph Konig, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of felonious
Adjective
  • Advocates for clemency have likewise urged Newsom to act, citing inequities and the risk of wrongful convictions.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Dateline Canada will premiere with a two-hour special revisiting the wrongful conviction of Robert Baltovich, who was jailed for the murder of then-girlfriend Elizabeth Bain after her disappearance in 1990.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of wrongful

Browse Nearby Words

crimes
criminal
criminal conversation
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Cite this Entry

“Criminal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/criminal. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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