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
Chenoweth says authoritarians are getting better at controlling information flow, criminalizing protest, hardening security and police forces, and coordinating with other authoritarians.
—
Chris John Amorosino, Hartford Courant, 16 Apr. 2026
In addition to criminalizing nonconsensual intimate deepfakes, the federal law requires platforms to take down imagery 48 hours after it is reported.
—Bruna Horvath, NBC news, 8 Apr. 2026
Israel accused Lebanon's government of failing to carry out its pledge to disarm Hezbollah, despite its unprecedented steps toward criminalizing the group.
—ABC News, 26 Mar. 2026
The bill also takes the step of actually criminalizing grooming.
—Mary Murphy, Twin Cities, 18 Mar. 2026
Tuesday, the House companion bill on criminalizing grooming will get its third hearing.
—Jennifer Mayerle, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
The verdict raises major questions about the limits of 1st Amendment protections and how far authorities can go in criminalizing political protests.
—Jamie Stengle, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 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
Chris John Amorosino, Hartford Courant, 16 Apr. 2026
In addition to criminalizing nonconsensual intimate deepfakes, the federal law requires platforms to take down imagery 48 hours after it is reported.
—Bruna Horvath, NBC news, 8 Apr. 2026
Israel accused Lebanon's government of failing to carry out its pledge to disarm Hezbollah, despite its unprecedented steps toward criminalizing the group.
—ABC News, 26 Mar. 2026
The bill also takes the step of actually criminalizing grooming.
—Mary Murphy, Twin Cities, 18 Mar. 2026
Tuesday, the House companion bill on criminalizing grooming will get its third hearing.
—Jennifer Mayerle, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
The verdict raises major questions about the limits of 1st Amendment protections and how far authorities can go in criminalizing political protests.
—Jamie Stengle, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for criminalizing
Verb
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The administration shied away from outlawing such investments outright in 401(k)s.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
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This year also marks the 75th anniversary of an extraordinary case of student activism that helped lead to the Supreme Court’s decision outlawing segregated schools.—
Jonathan Entin,
The Conversation,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Many colleges today have yet to integrate AI into learning, with professors often outright banning use of the technology in the classroom.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
19 Apr. 2026
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Democrats have refused to fund ICE and Border Patrol unless Republicans agree to major immigration enforcement reforms, such as requiring federal officers to obtain judicial warrants before entering private homes and banning officers from wearing masks.—
Alexander Bolton,
The Hill,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Criminalizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/criminalizing. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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