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
The court upheld the federal law criminalizing gun possession by someone subject to a domestic violence restraining order.
—
Morgan Marietta, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 2026
City council members heard a proposal Monday night to modify the section of the Independence City Code restricting and criminalizing the ways that residents purchase, transport and consume cannabis.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 9 Jan. 2026
The ballot is dominated by parties perceived to be close to the military and hundreds have been arrested under a new law criminalizing obstruction, disruption and criticism of the poll.
—Ross Adkin, CNN Money, 27 Dec. 2025
On one thing, Newsom and I agree — criminalizing chronically absent students and their families is a bad idea.
—Jon England, Mercury News, 2 Dec. 2025
As outrage over the verdict catalyzed activist campaigns into criminalizing spousal rape in every state (only achieved, with many loopholes, in 1993) the town of Salem, Oregon just wanted to move on.
—Sarah Weinman, Rolling Stone, 9 Nov. 2025
The second step, criminalizing all criticism, hardly needs detailing; most of the leading democratic dissidents, including in Poland, spent time in prison.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2025
That’s what makes criminalizing hate so fraught, particularly regarding hate speech.
—The Detroit News Editorial Board, Twin Cities, 24 Sep. 2025
But in 2024, Anutin, who in the meantime assumed the role of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior within the new government, announced that the Thai government was planning to regulate cannabis without re-criminalizing it for recreational use, as initially planned.
—Dario Sabaghi, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Morgan Marietta, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 2026
City council members heard a proposal Monday night to modify the section of the Independence City Code restricting and criminalizing the ways that residents purchase, transport and consume cannabis.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 9 Jan. 2026
The ballot is dominated by parties perceived to be close to the military and hundreds have been arrested under a new law criminalizing obstruction, disruption and criticism of the poll.
—Ross Adkin, CNN Money, 27 Dec. 2025
On one thing, Newsom and I agree — criminalizing chronically absent students and their families is a bad idea.
—Jon England, Mercury News, 2 Dec. 2025
As outrage over the verdict catalyzed activist campaigns into criminalizing spousal rape in every state (only achieved, with many loopholes, in 1993) the town of Salem, Oregon just wanted to move on.
—Sarah Weinman, Rolling Stone, 9 Nov. 2025
The second step, criminalizing all criticism, hardly needs detailing; most of the leading democratic dissidents, including in Poland, spent time in prison.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2025
That’s what makes criminalizing hate so fraught, particularly regarding hate speech.
—The Detroit News Editorial Board, Twin Cities, 24 Sep. 2025
But in 2024, Anutin, who in the meantime assumed the role of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior within the new government, announced that the Thai government was planning to regulate cannabis without re-criminalizing it for recreational use, as initially planned.
—Dario Sabaghi, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for criminalizing
Verb
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But some lawmakers in the State Affairs Committee bristled at the idea of outlawing all city and county flags.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
26 Jan. 2026
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Chicago aldermen approved a sweeping ban outlawing unlicensed businesses in the city from selling all but a few hemp products.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In addition to West Virginia, six other states have targeted food dyes with new laws or executive orders, requiring warning labels on food with certain dyes or banning the sale of such products in schools.—
Alan Greenblatt,
CBS News,
12 Jan. 2026
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Last year, the court upheld a Tennessee law banning gender-affirming care for minors — a ruling with repercussions across the country.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Criminalizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/criminalizing. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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