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
That's because the section in the FACE Act criminalizing interference at houses of worship fundamentally misstates the rights people have under the First Amendment.
—
Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
Its role as the only economic player in town – the result of crushing sanctions further criminalizing the regime to the point of creating and sustaining a black market economy run by the group – leaves its leaders disinterested in turning their back on such a system.
—Alexander Langlois, Oc Register, 18 Feb. 2026
The policy also opposes legislation criminalizing the care.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 10 Feb. 2026
Mahan has described such policies as more compassionate than leaving people to suffer on the streets indefinitely, but advocates have accused him of criminalizing homelessness.
—Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 29 Jan. 2026
An Indiana bill criminalizing doxing passed on second reading in the Senate Thursday with an amendment attached.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
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
Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
Its role as the only economic player in town – the result of crushing sanctions further criminalizing the regime to the point of creating and sustaining a black market economy run by the group – leaves its leaders disinterested in turning their back on such a system.
—Alexander Langlois, Oc Register, 18 Feb. 2026
The policy also opposes legislation criminalizing the care.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 10 Feb. 2026
Mahan has described such policies as more compassionate than leaving people to suffer on the streets indefinitely, but advocates have accused him of criminalizing homelessness.
—Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 29 Jan. 2026
An Indiana bill criminalizing doxing passed on second reading in the Senate Thursday with an amendment attached.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for criminalizing
Verb
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Criminalizing 'unlawful alert' and outlawing whistle blowing Senate Bill 1635 turns notifying someone that law enforcement is about to arrest them into a crime.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
2 Mar. 2026
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Following the 2022 invasion, the Kremlin passed a web of repressive laws effectively outlawing criticism of the war effort or government.—
Joanna Kakissis,
NPR,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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City officials also proposed banning black flags at demonstrations.—
Anand Gopal,
New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2026
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The city is now considering 18 new massage regulations, including prohibiting therapists from wearing revealing clothing and banning table showers.—
James Taylor,
CBS News,
28 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Criminalizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/criminalizing. Accessed 8 Mar. 2026.
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