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
Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2026
His wife, Tammy Machado, also resigned and is facing criminal charges.
—Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 19 Apr. 2026
Jack O'Connor, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
This criminal was deported and removed from our country on February 2, 2026.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for criminal
Adjective
The criminal complaint says Mafi leveraged her contacts within the government to settle a property dispute over an inheritance from her late father and to get her son out of his mandatory military service.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2026
His wife, Tammy Machado, also resigned and is facing criminal charges.
—Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 19 Apr. 2026
Noun
Illinois State Rifle Association Executive Director Richard Pearson said legislation like this could create a burdensome and costly game of Whac-A-Mole where gun manufacturers need to continually tweak their designs to adapt to the behavior of criminals.
—Jack O'Connor, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
This criminal was deported and removed from our country on February 2, 2026.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 8 Apr. 2026
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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The unlawful taking of items from within a building which is either open to the general public or to which the offender has legal access.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
17 Apr. 2026
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According to the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office, Gregory Keyier-Deniro Davis was also found guilty of four counts of felony firearm, felony assault, assault with intent to commit great bodily harm and habitual offender.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Van Dyke, who is stationed at Fort Bragg near Fayetteville, North Carolina, was charged Thursday with the unlawful use of confidential government information for personal gain, theft of nonpublic government information, commodities fraud, wire fraud and making an unlawful monetary transaction.—
Gary D. Robertson,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
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He has been charged in New York federal court with unlawful use of confidential government information for personal gain, theft of nonpublic government information, commodities fraud, wire fraud and making an unlawful monetary transaction.—
Erik Ortiz,
NBC news,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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At least four federal judges blocked some of those subpoenas as flagrantly illicit overreach.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
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Some lawmakers and industry groups have raised concerns about personal freedom, enforcement challenges, and the growth of illicit tobacco markets, sparking debate over individual liberty and the role of the state in regulating personal behavior.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Choi said nine law enforcement agencies in Ramsey County are investigating other potentially felonious conduct by federal agents.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
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He was originally charged with one count of murder and two counts each of felonious assault and tampering with evidence, according to court records.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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According to ProPublica, more than 18,000 immigrants filed federal lawsuits alleging wrongful detention between January 2025 and February 2026.—
Matthew Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
10 Apr. 2026
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As the first plaintiff in the class-action case, Gomez is demanding a trial by jury as well as declaratory and injunctive relief—that Nike rectify its wrongful actions—as well as an award of punitive damages for herself and other signatories of the suit.—
Kate Nishimura,
Footwear News,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Criminal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/criminal. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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