as in to outlaw
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 criminalize More than 30 of Africa's 54 countries criminalize homosexual acts. —
ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026 Kuwait and Bahrain have similarly criminalized filming and sharing footage of Iranian attacks. —Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 13 Apr. 2026 One gay man from a country in North Africa was nearly deported to Cameroon, where same-sex activities are criminalized, before his habeas petition was granted. —Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2026 The Take It Down Act criminalizes the publication of non-consensual intimate imagery, also known as NCII. —Bethany Bruner, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for criminalize
ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026 Kuwait and Bahrain have similarly criminalized filming and sharing footage of Iranian attacks. —Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 13 Apr. 2026 One gay man from a country in North Africa was nearly deported to Cameroon, where same-sex activities are criminalized, before his habeas petition was granted. —Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2026 The Take It Down Act criminalizes the publication of non-consensual intimate imagery, also known as NCII. —Bethany Bruner, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for criminalize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for criminalize
Verb
-
On the other hand, Germany, Austria and Italy are among the EU members that outlawed its use.— Vladimir Isachenkov, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
-
On the other hand, Germany, Austria and Italy are among the EU members that outlawed its use.— ABC News, ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That legislation, pending action from the governor, bans new data centers through November 2027 and creates a new state council to provide strategic input, facilitate planning considerations and evaluate policy tools to address data centers, Maine Morning Star reported.— Kevin Hardy, Baltimore Sun, 20 Apr. 2026
-
New York City has already banned gas stoves and furnaces in new buildings, and Albany is moving to copy California’s approach by requiring zero-emission vehicles for future car, pickup, and SUV sales.— Nicole Malliotakis, New York Daily News, 19 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Criminalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/criminalize. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
