as in illegal
contrary to or forbidden by law
people should know with certainty that criminal behavior will be punished
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in offender
a person who has committed a crime
car thieves, pickpockets, burglars, and other criminals
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of criminal
Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 20 Sep. 2025
In addition to handling the mortgage fraud probe against James, Siebert's office has also been involved in a criminal investigation of Comey related to the agency's past probes of Russian interference in the 2016 election.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025
Amy Reichert, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Sep. 2025
Evidence produced by the ISIS Prisons Museum has already been used in a German court to convict war criminals.
—Robin Yassin-Kassab, Time, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for criminal
Adjective
Michael Pizzi, a Miami attorney who has both defended police officers in criminal cases and sued police departments for misconduct in his three-decade career, put it more bluntly.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 20 Sep. 2025
In addition to handling the mortgage fraud probe against James, Siebert's office has also been involved in a criminal investigation of Comey related to the agency's past probes of Russian interference in the 2016 election.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025
Noun
Those criminals aren’t hypothetical.
—Amy Reichert, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Sep. 2025
Evidence produced by the ISIS Prisons Museum has already been used in a German court to convict war criminals.
—Robin Yassin-Kassab, Time, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for criminal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for criminal
Adjective
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Louisville police say anything that goes into the air or explodes is illegal for average citizens.—
James Bruggers,
The Courier-Journal,
5 July 2017
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Official fireworks shows took place over the city, and illegal pyrotechnics lit up the sky everywhere in between.—
Lisa Beebe,
Los Angeles Magazine,
5 July 2017
Noun
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Yet To Catch a Predator itself has long been criticized by some for entrapment-style tactics, vigilante justice, the blurry line between law enforcement and journalism, and, most importantly to Osit, questions on whether the punishment for some offenders fits the crime.—
Jason Newman,
Rolling Stone,
20 Sep. 2025
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Iger has been a fearless, equal opportunity offender in defending Disney’s corporate character, whether from intrusions by the left or by the right.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Like a coach revealed to be betting against their own team, Amazon’s actions, if proven unlawful, would amount to a fundamental breach of the trust the company asked consumers to give it.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
22 Sep. 2025
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Police said Bean was charged with two counts of first-degree reckless endangerment, two counts of third-degree criminal mischief, first-degree assault, unlawful discharge of a firearm and second-degree breach of peace.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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For two decades, the regimes of Hugo Chávez and Maduro have tied the state to illicit economies —granting officers, loyalists, and gangs access to oil, smuggling routes and drug profits.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
20 Sep. 2025
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In a lawsuit filed in California District Court on Thursday, the FTC accuses the companies of multiple forms of illicit behavior.—
Rob Wile,
NBC news,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Travis Jackson, 36, is charged with two counts of murder, two counts of felonious assault and discharging a firearm.—
Jennifer Rodriguez,
Kansas City Star,
22 Sep. 2025
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Sribniak, the dog's handler, is charged with assault with a dangeous weapon/felonious assault.—
Christina Hall,
Freep.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Over the last year, the Suns have faced five lawsuits from current and former employees, some alleging discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination and other issues.—
Doug Haller,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
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ChatGPT asked, according to a wrongful-death lawsuit his parents recently filed against OpenAI.—
Lila Shroff,
The Atlantic,
22 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Criminal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/criminal. Accessed 27 Sep. 2025.
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