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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of criminal
Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2025
The criminal complaint, though, does not mention a semi-automatic weapon or that Martinez was armed.
—Josh Campbell, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025
Peter Debruge, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
Her previous visits to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Japan’s war dead, including war criminals, have drawn criticism from China and South Korea, which see the site as a symbol of Tokyo’s wartime aggression.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for criminal
Adjective
The grand jury could issue criminal indictments and get answers to crucial questions in a scandal that has dominated state politics this year.
—Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2025
The criminal complaint, though, does not mention a semi-automatic weapon or that Martinez was armed.
—Josh Campbell, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025
Noun
In studying both criminals and law enforcement officers over the years, Mann has repeatedly been fascinated by both the complexities and contradictions in their personalities.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
Her previous visits to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Japan’s war dead, including war criminals, have drawn criticism from China and South Korea, which see the site as a symbol of Tokyo’s wartime aggression.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for criminal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for criminal
Adjective
-
Louisville police say anything that goes into the air or explodes is illegal for average citizens.—
James Bruggers,
The Courier-Journal,
5 July 2017
-
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
-
All colors change under different lights, but white is one of the biggest offenders due to its highly reflective quality.—
Sophie Flaxman,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Oct. 2025
-
This approach will ensure that this tool is aimed at giving the worst offenders a financial incentive to operate by the same set of rules as the rest of us.—
Wes Burdine,
Twin Cities,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The government’s lawyers argued the ruling effectively guts a statute aimed at reducing gun violence by preventing unlawful drug users from wielding firearms.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
20 Oct. 2025
-
He was arrested and booked into a juvenile detention center on suspicion of reckless driving, unlawful flight from a pursuing law enforcement vehicle, striking fixtures on a highway, excessive speeds, criminal trespass and other charges, the release said.—
Julie Mendes,
AZCentral.com,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Trump has made combating the opioid crisis, particularly the influx of illicit fentanyl, a central focus of his administration's policies.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Fox News exclusively embedded with the Austin Police Department as part of a nationwide human trafficking operation targeting illicit Chinese massage parlors.—
Brooke Taylor,
FOXNews.com,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Bennett says the 24-year-old is being charged with felonious assault for the shooting.—
Tre Mathews,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
20 Oct. 2025
-
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
Adjective
-
Lawyers for San Diego County are defending at least two dozen similar wrongful-death and negligence claims.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Oct. 2025
-
People like myself suffer a potential wrongful conviction.—
Micah Kimball,
Denver Post,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Criminal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/criminal. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share