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
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
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
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
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
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
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
-
The Compromise allowed for California’s entry into the Union as a free state, and outlawed the slave trade (but not slavery itself) in the District of Columbia.—
Jelani Cobb,
New Yorker,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Colvin was one of the four plaintiffs in the landmark lawsuit that outlawed racial segregation on Montgomery’s buses.—
Kimberly Chandler,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
Waiting was something forbidden.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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That is consistent with a 2019 law that banned whale and dolphin captivity, though Marineland's animals were grandfathered in.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Some governments banned the service or issued warnings.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
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
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 4 Feb. 2026.
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