CRIMINALIZE Synonyms: 19 Similar and Opposite Words

criminalize

verb

ˈkri-mə-nə-ˌlīz

Definition of criminalize

as in to outlaw

to make or declare contrary to the law wanted to criminalize an activity that the mountaineers had been engaging in for generations

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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 criminalize Patrick Daley Thompson for lying to bank regulators, the high court unanimously ruled that the law doesn't criminalize statements that are misleading but not false. — Hannah Meisel, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026 The Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 effectively criminalized what until then had been legal cannabis. — Bob Woods, CNBC, 15 Aug. 2026 Leno said the bill ensures classic car owners aren’t criminalized for driving their vehicles on a limited basis. — Sofia Williams, Sacbee.com, 13 Aug. 2026 Only Scorpio is still open, but both served as important spaces for LGBTQ+ people during a time when homosexuality was criminalized. — Charlotte Observer, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for criminalize

Recent Examples of Synonyms for criminalize

Verb

Independent media, already imperiled due to the Kremlin’s crackdown on dissent, was all but outlawed.

— Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
Increasingly, schools are outlawing mobile phones — as Maryland did in May of this year — and digital detox retreats are rising in popularity.

— Thu T. Nguyen, Baltimore Sun, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of outlaw

Verb

Although fines and suspended bans have been handed out to clubs, and some boys have been frozen out of the game for months until being cleared, few transfers have ever been banned by the five-step process.

— Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
At least 25 states are now enforcing laws or policies banning transgender women and girls from competing in at least some women’s and girls' sports and three others have adopted laws but have enforcement blocked by the courts.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of ban

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criminality

criminalize

criminalized

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“Criminalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/criminalize. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of criminalize

verb

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