crime

noun

ˈkrīm How to pronounce crime (audio)
Definition of crimenext
1
as in criminality
activities that are in violation of the laws of the state a promise by the president to step up the war against crime

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in shame
a regrettable or blameworthy act it's a crime to waste food, so give the rest of the pizza to me

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in offence
a breaking of a moral or legal code anyone who commits a crime should expect to be punished for it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun crime contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of crime are offense, scandal, sin, and vice. While all these words mean "a transgression of law," crime implies a serious offense punishable by the law of the state.

the crime of murder

When would offense be a good substitute for crime?

The words offense and crime are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, offense applies to the infraction of any law, rule, or code.

at that school no offense went unpunished

When can scandal be used instead of crime?

The meanings of scandal and crime largely overlap; however, scandal applies to an offense that outrages the public conscience.

a career ruined by a sex scandal

When is sin a more appropriate choice than crime?

The synonyms sin and crime are sometimes interchangeable, but sin implies an offense against moral or religious law.

the sin of blasphemy

When could vice be used to replace crime?

In some situations, the words vice and crime are roughly equivalent. However, vice applies to a habit or practice that degrades or corrupts.

regarded gambling as a vice

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 crime Australia, Canada, Ireland, and Switzerland rounded out the top five in that report which analyzed crime rates, crowding levels, and peace/safety indexes. —Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2025 Pattinson will also soon star in Lynne Ramsay's Die, My Love alongside Jennifer Lawrence and Nick Nolte, and he's slated to headline Lance Oppenheim's crime thriller Primetime with Phoebe Bridgers. —Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 9 Apr. 2025 Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. are back at the scene of the crime. —Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 1 Apr. 2025 In addition to editing content, Alex also covers breaking news, writing about crime and severe weather as well as everything from multistate lottery jackpots to the July Fourth hot dog eating contest. —Alex Sundby, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for crime
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crime
  1. criminality
  2. shame
  3. pity
  4. violation
  5. sin
  6. felony
Noun
  • Regarding the migrants sent to Guantánamo Bay, the Trump Administration has not provided sufficient proof of their status and criminality.
    — Made by History, Time, 26 Mar. 2025
  • The medical examiner’s office would automatically do an autopsy if foul play or criminality was suspected, but there is none, so the office did not overrule the family’s decision.
    — Denise Petski, Deadline, 27 Feb. 2025
Definition of criminality
Noun
  • Doing nothing is no longer an option for schools, teen says Around the country, as cases like Mani's continue to pop up, experts expect that shame prevents most victims from coming forward to flag abuses, suspecting that the problem is much more widespread than media reports suggest.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Moreover, the term body count itself carries a strong undercurrent of shame, particularly toward women.
    — Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of shame
Noun
  • None of that, obviously, defines them as people or reduces them to objects of pity.
    — Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 2 Apr. 2025
  • The woman hummed softly, lower lip jutting out, expression a little too close to pity for Sam’s liking.
    — Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 12 Feb. 2025
Definition of pity
Noun
  • His attorneys and family have rejected the government’s claims, calling his detention unjust and a violation of due process.
    — Hanna Park, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Executive director Nick Turner told the Bangor Daily News the show hoped to have other characters on stage reference the two Black characters the musical is missing without showing the pair, but was warned that altering the musical’s licensed script would constitute a contract violation .
    — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of violation
Noun
  • Landing in the bottom are Henry (for the sin of a spongy scallion pancake), Paula (for texture issues), and Bailey (for the aforementioned Pile of Stuff).
    — Caroline Framke, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2025
  • But the occasional poach is perhaps no great sin, more akin to driving over the speed limit than, say, starting a forest fire.
    — Mark Sundeen, Outside Online, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of sin
Noun
  • Michael Simon, Boynton Beach Yes, a ‘term’ for Trump The only term Donald Trump should receive is a jail or prison term for having been found guilty of 34 felony counts.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Records show she was booked into the Fulton County Jail Tuesday on one count of transmitting false public alarm, a felony.
    — Kristal Dixon, Axios, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of felony

Browse Nearby Words

cries up
crime
crimes
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Cite this Entry

“Crime.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crime. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

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