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
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Recent Examples of criminalize
At trial, defense attorneys argued over and over that the government is seeking to criminalize legal lobbying and job recommendations that are at the center of the state’s legitimate political system.
—
Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025
Without drawing this line, future politicians would risk criminalizing policy differences and make debate over difficult policy problems impossible.
—Elizabeth N. Saunders, Foreign Affairs, 16 June 2025
The Arkansas law, known as Act 372, criminalized the furnishing of obscene materials to minors at public libraries and bookstores.
—Brett Barrouquere, Arkansas Online, 27 June 2025
Even though these spaces feel invincible in the moment, they’re so easily taken away or criminalized.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for criminalize
Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025
Without drawing this line, future politicians would risk criminalizing policy differences and make debate over difficult policy problems impossible.
—Elizabeth N. Saunders, Foreign Affairs, 16 June 2025
The Arkansas law, known as Act 372, criminalized the furnishing of obscene materials to minors at public libraries and bookstores.
—Brett Barrouquere, Arkansas Online, 27 June 2025
Even though these spaces feel invincible in the moment, they’re so easily taken away or criminalized.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for criminalize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for criminalize
Verb
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The Socialist Reich Party (SRP), a successor to the Nazi Party, was outlawed in 1952.—
Sophie Tanno,
CNN Money,
6 July 2025
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The United States outlawed ibogaine in 1967 along with other psychotropic drugs.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
29 June 2025
Verb
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Schaumburg, for example, allows low-speed e-bikes on the same paths as traditional bikes, but Highland Park has banned some of those same bikes from its trails.—
Paulina Czupryna,
Chicago Tribune,
14 July 2025
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The bill also bans interest payments on stablecoins and imposes strict anti-money-laundering and sanctions compliance, with restrictions on executives with financial crime convictions.—
Becca Bratcher,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Criminalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/criminalize. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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