criminalizing

present participle of criminalize
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of criminalizing This entails criminalizing everyday life and everyday forms of community. Literary Hub, 24 Aug. 2026 Global human rights groups have criticized the jailing of the journalists and the denial of bail, asking the government to drop the charges against them and stop criminalizing news reporting. ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026 Street vendors rallied outside Oakland City Hall Thursday, accusing the city of criminalizing people who are trying to earn a living as officials step up enforcement against unpermitted vending. Da Lin, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026 This contrasts sharply with a federal judge's decision days earlier, blocking Minnesota from criminalizing prediction markets, a win for Kalshi and the CFTC who argue federal preemption. Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026 Michael Olson, policy counsel for Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform, said criminalizing the distribution of sterile syringes is a mistake. Maya Henry, Oklahoma Watch, 30 June 2026 According to Human Rights Watch, at least 67 countries have national laws criminalizing same-sex relations between consenting adults, and at least nine have criminalize forms of gender expression. Rebecca Schneid, Time, 20 June 2026 Civil liberties advocates say the settlement underscores First Amendment protections for controversial online speech and warns law enforcement nationwide to tread carefully when criminalizing social media posts. R.j. Rico, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2026 Under President John Adams, the Federalists sought to eradicate French ideological influence by raising the bar to citizenship, lowering the bar to deportation, and criminalizing malicious criticism of the federal government. Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for criminalizing
Verb
  • It was modeled on a law that the Nevada state legislature passed in 2021, outlawing the use of Colorado River water on ornamental grass and commercial, government and homeowners association properties in places like Las Vegas.
    Paul Rogers, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Increasingly, schools are outlawing mobile phones — as Maryland did in May of this year — and digital detox retreats are rising in popularity.
    Thu T. Nguyen, Baltimore Sun, 27 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • At least 25 states are now enforcing laws or policies banning transgender women and girls from competing in at least some women’s and girls' sports and three others have adopted laws but have enforcement blocked by the courts.
    ABC News, ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026
  • At least 25 states are now enforcing laws or policies banning transgender women and girls from competing in at least some women’s and girls’ sports and three others have adopted laws but have enforcement blocked by the courts.
    Steve Peoples, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Criminalizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/criminalizing. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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