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 court relied on a 1962 Supreme Court decision that said the Eighth Amendment prevented criminalizing someone’s status, Robinson v. California, specifically regarding the status of being addicted to drugs.
—
Gillian Brassil, Sacramento Bee, 22 Apr. 2024
Ziegler said efforts to criminalize abortions in the 1860s were led by physicians who knew exceptions to save a mother's life gave them leeway.
—Stacey Barchenger, The Arizona Republic, 14 Apr. 2024
California cities already have more than 800 laws on their books criminalizing behaviors typically exhibited by unhoused people, such as sitting, resting or sleeping in public, or panhandling, according to the Western Regional Advocacy Project.
—Calmatters, The Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2024
Jain, from the Center for Democracy and Technology, acknowledged those concerns but said new laws banning criminalizing or restricting VPNs could do more harm than good and may face constitutional legal challenges.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 3 Apr. 2024
The law, which is addition to the National Security Law injected into Hong Kong’s mini constitution in July 2020, imposes severe punishments for interference by foreign forces deemed to threaten national security and criminalizes the possession or disclosure of state secrets.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 2 Apr. 2024
In what could have been the last week of the 2024 legislative session, Idaho Republicans held a public hearing to send a bill that would criminalize undocumented immigrants to the House floor.
—Mia Maldonado, Idaho Statesman, 30 Mar. 2024
Excessive prison sentences tore families apart and criminalized those with substance use issues instead of providing resources for treatment.
—Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024
Donald Trump said Wednesday that an Arizona law that criminalizes nearly all abortions goes too far and called on Arizona lawmakers to change it, while also defending the overturning of Roe v. Wade that cleared states to ban the procedure.
—Bill Barrow, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2024
Gillian Brassil, Sacramento Bee, 22 Apr. 2024
Ziegler said efforts to criminalize abortions in the 1860s were led by physicians who knew exceptions to save a mother's life gave them leeway.
—Stacey Barchenger, The Arizona Republic, 14 Apr. 2024
California cities already have more than 800 laws on their books criminalizing behaviors typically exhibited by unhoused people, such as sitting, resting or sleeping in public, or panhandling, according to the Western Regional Advocacy Project.
—Calmatters, The Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2024
Jain, from the Center for Democracy and Technology, acknowledged those concerns but said new laws banning criminalizing or restricting VPNs could do more harm than good and may face constitutional legal challenges.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 3 Apr. 2024
The law, which is addition to the National Security Law injected into Hong Kong’s mini constitution in July 2020, imposes severe punishments for interference by foreign forces deemed to threaten national security and criminalizes the possession or disclosure of state secrets.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 2 Apr. 2024
In what could have been the last week of the 2024 legislative session, Idaho Republicans held a public hearing to send a bill that would criminalize undocumented immigrants to the House floor.
—Mia Maldonado, Idaho Statesman, 30 Mar. 2024
Excessive prison sentences tore families apart and criminalized those with substance use issues instead of providing resources for treatment.
—Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024
Donald Trump said Wednesday that an Arizona law that criminalizes nearly all abortions goes too far and called on Arizona lawmakers to change it, while also defending the overturning of Roe v. Wade that cleared states to ban the procedure.
—Bill Barrow, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2024
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 27 Apr. 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?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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