as in illegal
contrary to or forbidden by law
people should know with certainty that criminal behavior will be punished
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Alexander Mallin, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2025
Almost a year later, the criminal charges were dropped but the horses were never returned to him.
—Andrew Wimer, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025
Tanya Melendez, EW.com, 1 Aug. 2025
During a recent visit to Chile, US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem signed a letter of intent to expand a Biometric Identification Transnational Migration Alert program with Chile, arguing that is necessary for tracking criminals.
—Gonzalo Zegarra, CNN Money, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for criminal
Adjective
Federal prosecutors on Wednesday moved to dismiss criminal charges against a woman accused of fraud in Florida who was being represented in court by Brad Bondi, the brother of Attorney General Pam Bondi.
—Alexander Mallin, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2025
Almost a year later, the criminal charges were dropped but the horses were never returned to him.
—Andrew Wimer, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025
Noun
The retelling of the 1987 Luc Besson film, where a homeless petty criminal (Peta Wilson) is recruited by a secret government organization to become a highly skilled assassin?
—Tanya Melendez, EW.com, 1 Aug. 2025
During a recent visit to Chile, US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem signed a letter of intent to expand a Biometric Identification Transnational Migration Alert program with Chile, arguing that is necessary for tracking criminals.
—Gonzalo Zegarra, CNN Money, 1 Aug. 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
Adjective
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Drake Solomon accuses his former employer of disability discrimination and an unlawful severance offer.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
15 Aug. 2025
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Instead, advocates say those who are not in shelter are being pushed farther and farther away from services in an attempt to escape unlawful camping citations.—
Keely Doll,
The Courier-Journal,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Rather than being stripped of their parts, this term refers to vehicles that are driven off intact by thieves, either for joy-riding or title washing and illicit resale either here or abroad.—
Jim Gorzelany,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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Grab a seat at Square Grouper, where illicit Florida Keys history blends with the freshest seafood and stellar sunset views.—
Carrie Honaker,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Matthews later returned to court to face two new counts of felonious assault and one count of misdemeanor assault.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
6 Aug. 2025
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Nathaniel Joshua-Olson Rockwell, 32, is charged with one count of first-degree murder, three counts of a felony firearms offense and two counts of felonious assault with a dangerous weapon, according to an Aug. 3 news release from Royal Oak Police.—
Christina Hall,
Freep.com,
3 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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That is against the intent of the law and is wrongful.—
Kelly G. Richardson,
Oc Register,
16 Aug. 2025
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Drake Solomon, who performed as Rocky, the Denver Nuggets mascot, has filed a lawsuit against the franchise for wrongful termination.—
Denver Post,
Denver Post,
14 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Criminal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/criminal. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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