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
For example, a late June decision upholding bans on homeless people sleeping in public places criminalizes human biology, as the dissent noted.
—
The Editors, Scientific American, 10 July 2024
His party passed a sweeping security law that included a measure that would have criminalized the filming of police officers (blocked by the Constitutional Council).
—Cole Stangler, TIME, 8 July 2024
Times Editorial Board: Cities in L.A. County shouldn’t race to criminalize homelessness after the Grants Pass ruling.
—Shelby Grad, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2024
The Court was right that some presidential acts can’t be criminalized.
—Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 1 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for criminalize 
The Editors, Scientific American, 10 July 2024
His party passed a sweeping security law that included a measure that would have criminalized the filming of police officers (blocked by the Constitutional Council).
—Cole Stangler, TIME, 8 July 2024
Times Editorial Board: Cities in L.A. County shouldn’t race to criminalize homelessness after the Grants Pass ruling.
—Shelby Grad, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2024
The Court was right that some presidential acts can’t be criminalized.
—Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 1 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for criminalize
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'criminalize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near criminalize
Cite this Entry
“Criminalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/criminalize. Accessed 26 Jul. 2024.
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?
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