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
Angelica Ang, Fortune, 12 Jan. 2026
In England at least, it’s now criminalized.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 12 Jan. 2026
Additionally, in February 2024, owning an XL bully without an exemption certificate was criminalized, per the BBC.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 11 Jan. 2026
The project appeared a few months after Orbán’s adoption of a Hungarian law that essentially criminalized homelessness.
—John Penner, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Much of this music — particularly Latin trap and reggaetón, the genres Bad Bunny got his start in and continues to use in his new work — has been historically criminalized in Puerto Rico, not unlike hip-hop in the United States.
—Maria Sherman, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
We are often criminalized just for existing.
—Nicolas Johnson-Smith, Baltimore Sun, 2 Jan. 2026
These works, among others, challenge visitors to consider how LA and São Paulo have criminalized their most vulnerable citizens but also demonstrate how Brazil’s discourse on social rights and illegality is unique.
—Michaëla De Lacaze Mohrmann, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
Nur Ja Heisst Ja is hopeful that this might soon change, as Kathrin Wahlmann, a justice minister in the state of Lower Saxony, has launched a statewide campaign to have that possession criminalized.
—Saskya Vandoorne, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025
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
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
Additionally, in February 2024, owning an XL bully without an exemption certificate was criminalized, per the BBC.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 11 Jan. 2026
The project appeared a few months after Orbán’s adoption of a Hungarian law that essentially criminalized homelessness.
—John Penner, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Much of this music — particularly Latin trap and reggaetón, the genres Bad Bunny got his start in and continues to use in his new work — has been historically criminalized in Puerto Rico, not unlike hip-hop in the United States.
—Maria Sherman, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
We are often criminalized just for existing.
—Nicolas Johnson-Smith, Baltimore Sun, 2 Jan. 2026
These works, among others, challenge visitors to consider how LA and São Paulo have criminalized their most vulnerable citizens but also demonstrate how Brazil’s discourse on social rights and illegality is unique.
—Michaëla De Lacaze Mohrmann, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
Nur Ja Heisst Ja is hopeful that this might soon change, as Kathrin Wahlmann, a justice minister in the state of Lower Saxony, has launched a statewide campaign to have that possession criminalized.
—Saskya Vandoorne, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025
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
-
Many other cities, states, and countries have outlawed the practice, according to the bill analysis.—
Center Square,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Jan. 2026
-
The Florida Legislature outlawed full nudity at beaches, and the state then tried closing Haulover’s nude beach in 1994.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
26 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Waiting was something forbidden.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Jan. 2026
-
The best places to hunt for forbidden titles were other people’s bookshelves, but this one was hard to find even there.—
Amir Ahmadi Arian,
The Dial,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Israel began demolishing the UNRWA headquarters in East Jerusalem Tuesday, following passage of a law that banned the activities of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
20 Jan. 2026
-
First, the administration has banned the entry of individuals from many countries.—
Stuart Anderson,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Their world inside Parchman was defined by regulation of contraband items, the work they were told to do, conflicts with other inmates, and the corruption and neglect of the prison administrators.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Another witness in the trial was locked up in MDC Brooklyn when an inmate handed him a contraband cell phone in January 2024.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
9 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 25 Jan. 2026.
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