CRIMINALIZE Synonyms: 19 Similar and Opposite Words

criminalize

verb

ˈkri-mə-nə-ˌlīz

Definition of criminalize

as in to outlaw

to make or declare contrary to the law wanted to criminalize an activity that the mountaineers had been engaging in for generations

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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 criminalize Laws used to criminalize dissent remain in force, intelligence and security agencies retain essentially the same structures and practices, and authorities have taken no steps to disarm or dismantle the colectivos. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 16 Sep. 2026 Pollari wrote much of the rock song in Polari, which is a historical British cant invented by gay men to speak openly in public while homosexuality was criminalized between the 16th and 19th centuries. — Daniela Avila, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2026 The militarized cities and the unconstitutional laws that criminalize dissent betray the fear of a dehumanizing system faced with the strength of a conscious and determined community. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2026 Iranian politicians are divided over a move by the country’s parliament to approve a bill that would criminalize communications with media outlets deemed hostile to the Islamic Republic. — Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for criminalize

Recent Examples of Synonyms for criminalize

Verb

Using the history of gay male desire in different time periods — dangerous, clandestine, outlawed and at long last fitfully accepted — the film examines legacy and what gets handed down across time.

— Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
None of the other states that have passed constitutional amendments protecting the ability to hunt and fish have had specific hunting methods outlawed by the voters, as Colorado has.

— Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of outlaw

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criminality

criminalize

criminalized

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“Criminalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/criminalize. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of criminalize

verb

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