criminalize

verb

crim·​i·​nal·​ize ˈkri-mə-nə-ˌlīz 

ˈkrim-nə-ˌlīz

criminalized; criminalizing

transitive verb

: to make illegal

also : to turn into a criminal or treat as criminal

criminalization

ˌkri-mə-nə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

ˌkrim-nə-lə-ˈzā-

noun

Synonyms of criminalize

• outlaw
• ban

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

Its role as the only economic player in town – the result of crushing sanctions further criminalizing the regime to the point of creating and sustaining a black market economy run by the group – leaves its leaders disinterested in turning their back on such a system. —Alexander Langlois, Oc Register, 18 Feb. 2026

Middleton, an oil and gas executive, criticized Roy for pushing back against a GOP bill in Congress that would have criminalized providing hormone therapy to minors. —Dallas Morning News, 17 Feb. 2026

Texas should regulate, not criminalize. —Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026

Many legal cannabis ventures enrich hedge funds and politicians, and relatively few benefits accrue to the people who suffered jail time or worse when the drug was criminalized in every state. —Ezra Marcus, Vulture, 11 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

criminal entry 1 + -ize

First Known Use

circa 1956, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for criminalize

• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise
• apologize
• capitalize
• categorize
• characterize
• commercialize
• conceptualize
• contrariwise
• decentralize
• democratize

Legal 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

criminalization

ˌkri-mə-nə-lə-ˈzā-shən, -ˌlī- 

noun