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
For people of color and for vulnerable communities, it’s used to criminalize us.
—
Addie Morfoot, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
The policy criminalizes routine reporting, according to media lawyers and advocates, so news outlets are refusing to abide by it.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2025
In the motion, Benowitz notes that the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act criminalizes unauthorized digital access to computers as a misdemeanor.
—Doha Madani, NBC news, 14 Oct. 2025
Actions taken by the federal government in 2025 that criminalize people experiencing homelessness, defund Housing First initiatives and dismantle Medicaid and other essential benefits threaten these partnerships and our progress.
—Sarah Stella, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for criminalize
Addie Morfoot, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
The policy criminalizes routine reporting, according to media lawyers and advocates, so news outlets are refusing to abide by it.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2025
In the motion, Benowitz notes that the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act criminalizes unauthorized digital access to computers as a misdemeanor.
—Doha Madani, NBC news, 14 Oct. 2025
Actions taken by the federal government in 2025 that criminalize people experiencing homelessness, defund Housing First initiatives and dismantle Medicaid and other essential benefits threaten these partnerships and our progress.
—Sarah Stella, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for criminalize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for criminalize
Verb
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During their first reign from 1996-2001, the Taliban had outlawed all music besides non-instrumental religious chanting, enforcing the ban with brutal tactics that included a suicide bombing at an ANIM student concert.—
Vidushi Mishti Sharma,
Rolling Stone,
24 Oct. 2025
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Democrats generally have been more successful at utilizing mail ballots, which has a lot to do with why Trump and Republicans want to outlaw or limit them.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Wisconsin is one of only a few states in the country that do not ban the private ownership of wild or exotic animals, Gengler said.—
Quinn Clark,
jsonline.com,
27 Oct. 2025
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In the waters from Oregon to the Sonoma/Mendocino line, state health officials determined that high levels of a toxin called domoic acid would pose a public health risk, hence the order banning recreational crabbing until further notice.—
Linda Zavoral,
Mercury News,
26 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Criminalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/criminalize. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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