as in illegal
contrary to or forbidden by law
people should know with certainty that criminal behavior will be punished
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in offender
a person who has committed a crime
car thieves, pickpockets, burglars, and other criminals
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of criminal
ABC News, 1 Mar. 2026
Going to the hospital and pressing criminal charges.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 1 Mar. 2026
Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
His posture now belies a man who just spent a night in their custody as an alleged criminal.
—Christopher Anderson, Vanity Fair, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for criminal
Adjective
Northern Nigeria is in the grip of a complex security crisis featuring both Islamic militants operating in the northeast and armed criminal gangs kidnapping people for ransom who have wrecked havoc in the northwest and north-central regions.
—ABC News, 1 Mar. 2026
Going to the hospital and pressing criminal charges.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 1 Mar. 2026
Noun
Buildings slid into decay, forcing out the elderly renters, bringing in an underclass -- criminals, dope users, the poor, unemployed Mariel refugees.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
His posture now belies a man who just spent a night in their custody as an alleged criminal.
—Christopher Anderson, Vanity Fair, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for criminal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for criminal
Adjective
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Louisville police say anything that goes into the air or explodes is illegal for average citizens.—
James Bruggers,
The Courier-Journal,
5 July 2017
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Official fireworks shows took place over the city, and illegal pyrotechnics lit up the sky everywhere in between.—
Lisa Beebe,
Los Angeles Magazine,
5 July 2017
Noun
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Responding officers placed both offenders into custody.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
28 Feb. 2026
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Almost one month after Guthrie’s kidnapping, little remains publicly known about the offender (or offenders) who abducted the 84-year-old woman.—
Victoria Bekiempis,
Vulture,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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FedEx called its suit a procedural step to protect its customers, shareholders and the company, noting that the CIT’s ruling made clear that companies must file suit to seek reliquidation and a refund if the Supreme Court deemed the tariffs unlawful.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
27 Feb. 2026
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Ortiz Betancourt has an additional misdemeanor count of operation of a motor vehicle by an unlicensed driver, while Torrealba-Pajaro has misdemeanor counts of resisting law enforcement and unlawful encroachment on a law enforcement officer.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Other clips show dozens of containers throughout the illicit facility, and vessels filled with unknown substances.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
26 Feb. 2026
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On Wednesday, his administration imposed new sanctions on 30 people and companies accused of enabling Iran’s production of ballistic missiles and drones, and illicit oil sales.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Caleb Flynn has been charged with murder, two counts of felonious assault with a deadly weapon and two counts of tampering with evidence.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
24 Feb. 2026
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The plutocrat puppets like Bannon and the felonious Trumps will destroy the courts, justice system and balance of power.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Jason Riley filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, as well as several property management companies.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2026
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But Welborn would not be eligible for compensation under the Tim Cole Act because he was never convicted or imprisoned, said Charlie Press, director of the wrongful conviction clinic at the University of Texas School of Law.—
Tony Plohetski,
Austin American Statesman,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Criminal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/criminal. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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