Synonyms of criminal

criminal 1 of 2

adjective

ˈkri-mə-nᵊl 

as in illegal

contrary to or forbidden by law

people should know with certainty that criminal behavior will be punished

Synonyms & Similar Words

• illegal
• unlawful
• illicit
• felonious
• wrongful
• unauthorized
• illegitimate
• forbidden
• lawless
• immoral
• criminalized
• prohibited
• evil
• sinful
• shameful
• wrong
• unethical
• wicked
• reprehensible
• bad
• corrupt
• blameworthy
• contraband
• unlicensed
• barred
• proscribed
• unscrupulous
• villainous
• unsanctioned
• outlawed
• unprincipled
• censurable
• discouraged
• under-the-table
• disallowed
• blamable
• interdicted
• adulterine
• banned
• bootleg
• under-the-counter

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• legal
• legitimate
• lawful
• ethical
• right
• good
• righteous
• virtuous
• permitted
• just
• principled
• authorized
• licensed
• proper
• approved
• endorsed
• correct
• allowed
• promoted
• decent
• supported
• sanctioned
• suggested
• decorous
• abetted
• encouraged
• seemly

criminal

2 of 2

noun

as in offender

a person who has committed a crime

car thieves, pickpockets, burglars, and other criminals

Synonyms & Similar Words

• offender
• lawbreaker
• culprit
• defendant
• crook
• miscreant
• malefactor
• perpetrator
• accomplice
• misdemeanant
• thug
• outlaw
• gangster
• villain
• principal
• suspect
• convict
• desperado
• jailbird
• perp
• mobster
• trespasser
• racketeer
• hoodlum
• wrongdoer
• gun
• sinner
• hooligan
• recidivist
• transgressor
• fish
• arrestee
• triggerman
• evildoer
• detainee
• gunsel
• backslider
• enforcer
• misdoer
• misfeasor
• gunman
• blackhander
• gallows bird
• accused
• button man
• hit man
• repeater
• relapser

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lawman
• gangbuster

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of criminal

Adjective

Phillips was questioned and has since been charged with felony destruction of a body/concealment of a death, and felony altering/destroying criminal evidence, the sheriff’s office said. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 5 Oct. 2026

Zhang is charged in a criminal complaint with acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government. — Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026

Noun

Meanwhile, the surveillance system creates an evidence trail that her office can use to prosecute suspected criminals. — Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 2 Oct. 2026

Combating cargo theft The sheer scale of these heists—targeting hundreds of thousands of dollars in equipment from commercial trailers—points not to petty theft, but organized criminals. — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026