as in outlawing
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 criminalizing
This year, state lawmakers passed a law criminalizing local officials who cast votes for any kind of sanctuary policy.
—
Vivian Jones, Nashville Tennessean, 4 Sep. 2025
Gorgeous added that, rather than criminalizing trans kids who steal, or tattling on them, people should be looking for ways to help them.
—Mathew Rodriguez, Them., 3 Sep. 2025
Shortly after that, Congress passed a law criminalizing flag burning but the court later struck it down.
—Laurie Kellman, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2025
If Britain continues down the path of criminalizing thought and prayer, the alliance risks being reduced to polite diplomacy while its moral core rots away.
—Lois McLatchie Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025
Many health care professional organizations, including the American Medical Association, KFF and the American Psychological Association, say criminalizing gender-affirming care causes greater harm to transgender youths' mental well-being.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2025
Without a detailed plan on tackling homelessness in the nation's capital, advocates like Amber Harding, executive director of the nonprofit Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless, worry the focus will be on criminalizing those who have nowhere to go.
—Michel Martin, NPR, 14 Aug. 2025
The Supreme Court’s ruling also determined that the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishments does not protect homeless people from laws criminalizing resting in public places.
—Stephen Przybylinski, The Conversation, 12 Aug. 2025
Vivian Jones, Nashville Tennessean, 4 Sep. 2025
Gorgeous added that, rather than criminalizing trans kids who steal, or tattling on them, people should be looking for ways to help them.
—Mathew Rodriguez, Them., 3 Sep. 2025
Shortly after that, Congress passed a law criminalizing flag burning but the court later struck it down.
—Laurie Kellman, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2025
If Britain continues down the path of criminalizing thought and prayer, the alliance risks being reduced to polite diplomacy while its moral core rots away.
—Lois McLatchie Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025
Many health care professional organizations, including the American Medical Association, KFF and the American Psychological Association, say criminalizing gender-affirming care causes greater harm to transgender youths' mental well-being.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2025
Without a detailed plan on tackling homelessness in the nation's capital, advocates like Amber Harding, executive director of the nonprofit Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless, worry the focus will be on criminalizing those who have nowhere to go.
—Michel Martin, NPR, 14 Aug. 2025
The Supreme Court’s ruling also determined that the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishments does not protect homeless people from laws criminalizing resting in public places.
—Stephen Przybylinski, The Conversation, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for criminalizing
Verb
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Reuters — Burkina Faso’s transitional parliament passed legislation outlawing conduct deemed to promote LGBTQ practices, introducing fines, prison sentences and sanctions for persons convicted, its justice minister said.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
2 Sep. 2025
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This too is about students wanting to feel welcome–in the wake of the Supreme Court’s June 2023 decision outlawing affirmative action in admissions, applications to historically Black colleges like Howard University (#383) surged.—
Emma Whitford,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
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As part of their demands, the students demanded state and federal lawmakers pass laws banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.—
Alec Johnson,
jsonline.com,
5 Sep. 2025
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The Balance Project is lobbying their local school district to enforce their device-free policy by banning smartwatches during school.—
Charlotte Alter,
Time,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Criminalizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/criminalizing. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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