criminalize
verb
crim·i·nal·ize
ˈkri-mə-nə-ˌlīz 
ˈkrim-nə-ˌlīz
criminalized; criminalizing
: to make illegal
also
: to turn into a criminal or treat as criminal
Examples of criminalize in a Sentence
a law that criminalized alcohol
wanted to criminalize an activity that the mountaineers had been engaging in for generations
Recent Examples on the Web
The policy criminalizes routine reporting, according to media lawyers and advocates, so news outlets are refusing to abide by it.
—
Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2025
Actions taken by the federal government in 2025 that criminalize people experiencing homelessness, defund Housing First initiatives and dismantle Medicaid and other essential benefits threaten these partnerships and our progress.
—Sarah Stella, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2025
Oregon’s law criminalizes making audio recordings unless all parties are notified, with some exceptions, like during conversations with on-duty law enforcement and during felonies that endanger human life.
—Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 6 Oct. 2025
The festival, taking place in Riyadh from September 26 to October 9, has been widely condemned as an attempt to whitewash the Saudi regime, which heavily criminalizes LGBTQ+ people and has ordered the killing of journalists like Jamal Khashoggi.
—Samantha Riedel, Them., 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for criminalize
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Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2025
Actions taken by the federal government in 2025 that criminalize people experiencing homelessness, defund Housing First initiatives and dismantle Medicaid and other essential benefits threaten these partnerships and our progress.
—Sarah Stella, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2025
Oregon’s law criminalizes making audio recordings unless all parties are notified, with some exceptions, like during conversations with on-duty law enforcement and during felonies that endanger human life.
—Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 6 Oct. 2025
The festival, taking place in Riyadh from September 26 to October 9, has been widely condemned as an attempt to whitewash the Saudi regime, which heavily criminalizes LGBTQ+ people and has ordered the killing of journalists like Jamal Khashoggi.
—Samantha Riedel, Them., 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for criminalize
Cite this Entry
“Criminalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/criminalize. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
criminalize
transitive verb
crim·i·nal·ize
ˈkri-mə-nə-ˌlīz
criminalized; criminalizing
: to make criminal : outlaw
the statute criminalizing the use of contraceptives—R. H. Bork
compare illegalize
R. H. BorkLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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