as in prohibited
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as in outlawed
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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Recent Examples of criminalized
Solly Boussidan , Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 7 Dec. 2025
Dallas Morning News, 17 Feb. 2026
Many legal cannabis ventures enrich hedge funds and politicians, and relatively few benefits accrue to the people who suffered jail time or worse when the drug was criminalized in every state.
—Ezra Marcus, Vulture, 11 Feb. 2026
When truth is criminalized, freedom becomes fragile.
—Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 8 Feb. 2026
Universities are under threat of government interference, book banning has reached unprecedented levels, journalists and artists and media outlets and attorneys are being punished, silenced, and doxed, and dissent everywhere is being criminalized.
—Gioia Woods, Literary Hub, 6 Feb. 2026
In Alabama’s pending appeal, the state argues begging was widely criminalized at the start of the nation so should not be protected speech under the First Amendment.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 1 Feb. 2026
Many freedoms Americans take for granted— like education, art, association, speech— are criminalized or tightly controlled in Iran.
—Agustina Vergara Cid, Oc Register, 23 Jan. 2026
In 2024, South Korea criminalized watching or producing deepfake pornography.
—Angelica Ang, Fortune, 12 Jan. 2026
In England at least, it’s now criminalized.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Isaias Medina, an international lawyer and former Venezuelan diplomat who denounced his own government at the International Criminal Court, described Venezuela as a criminalized state dominated by narcotrafficking networks.
—Solly Boussidan , Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 7 Dec. 2025
Verb
Middleton, an oil and gas executive, criticized Roy for pushing back against a GOP bill in Congress that would have criminalized providing hormone therapy to minors.
—Dallas Morning News, 17 Feb. 2026
Many legal cannabis ventures enrich hedge funds and politicians, and relatively few benefits accrue to the people who suffered jail time or worse when the drug was criminalized in every state.
—Ezra Marcus, Vulture, 11 Feb. 2026
When truth is criminalized, freedom becomes fragile.
—Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 8 Feb. 2026
Universities are under threat of government interference, book banning has reached unprecedented levels, journalists and artists and media outlets and attorneys are being punished, silenced, and doxed, and dissent everywhere is being criminalized.
—Gioia Woods, Literary Hub, 6 Feb. 2026
In Alabama’s pending appeal, the state argues begging was widely criminalized at the start of the nation so should not be protected speech under the First Amendment.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 1 Feb. 2026
Many freedoms Americans take for granted— like education, art, association, speech— are criminalized or tightly controlled in Iran.
—Agustina Vergara Cid, Oc Register, 23 Jan. 2026
In 2024, South Korea criminalized watching or producing deepfake pornography.
—Angelica Ang, Fortune, 12 Jan. 2026
In England at least, it’s now criminalized.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 12 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for criminalized
Adjective
-
There is, however, room for questions about where the line between prohibited and acceptable political involvement will fall in practice.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
11 July 2025
-
The list of prohibited and restricted items, as found on the CBP website, includes alcohol, biological materials, firearms, food and produce such as fruits and vegetables, soil, wildlife, fish, and gold, among other items.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Pakistan blames Afghans for suicide bombings Militant violence has surged in Pakistan in recent years, much of it blamed on the TTP and outlawed Baloch separatist groups.—
Munir Ahmed,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Pakistan has witnessed a surge in militant violence in recent years, much of it blamed on Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, and outlawed Baloch groups.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Women, whether secular or religious, remain forbidden to read, write or tell stories.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
-
One of Japan’s most beloved television personalities — and a perennial favorite-host winner — Matsuko brings her sharp insight and commanding presence to a forbidden auction staged in a mysterious underground space.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Petrosian will compete as a neutral athlete after Russia was banned from the Olympics for its invasion of Ukraine, and as a result, the country has not participated in international competition in years.—
Sara Germano,
Sportico.com,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Debate swirls around whether these financial behemoths should be banned.—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The same can be said for using a Pornhub-type site to pass contraband date along.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The same deficiencies cited in contraband cases in the mid-2010s continue to appear in inspections a decade later.—
Walter Pavlo,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Known for her raunchy, no-holds barred comedy, Glaser’s career skyrocketed after her standout performance on Netflix’s roast of Tom Brady.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
22 Oct. 2025
-
In the constellation Cepheus lies the barred spiral galaxy NGC 6951.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
20 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Criminalized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/criminalized. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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