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 violation
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 Past its glory days, the street adopted a grimier reputation, with crime and dangerous drivers, but there was a vision to transform it into something resembling Magnolia Avenue, or one of south Fort Worth’s pedestrian havens. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2026 Turner gained greater recognition in 2014 after starring in the crime series Glue, about a young man investigating his brother’s death. — L. Sue Baugh, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026 Two people have been arrested in connection with the crime so far, and more arrests are expected, according to Coral Gables Police Chief Ed Hudak. — Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026 Randazzo, who has not been charged with a crime, did not respond to messages from USA TODAY. — Kenny Jacoby, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for crime
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crime
  1. criminality
  2. shame
  3. violation
  4. pity
  5. sin
  6. felony
  7. wrongdoing
Noun
  • What about how police agencies understand criminality and risk can only be put on the table and frankly stated behind closed doors?
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The Jackson County District Attorney's office has previously said convening a grand jury does not mean there is any criminality and is standard procedure for most unnatural or suspicious deaths in the county.
    — Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of criminality
Noun
  • There can be a lot of shame in the discussion if parents are in debt, Kerner said.
    — Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Not just shame but gross unfitness for serving in a role at a state university.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of shame
Noun
  • The violations on the report include employees not having a food handler card, as well as no drain plugs being seen when observing the plumbing.
    — Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The states argue that Meta withheld relevant information from users and parents, who might have benefited from knowing the ineffectiveness of the feature and others like it, constituting a violation of consumer protection laws.
    — John Ruwitch, NPR, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of violation
Noun
  • Maceta, moved to pity at times, would put an ear to his friend’s chest and hear how Ruiz’s heart leaped about inside his body, as though trying to fly apart.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The actress was at a tipping point in her career, shifting from easily relatable protagonists to more complicated characters who didn’t require our affection or our pity.
    — Chris Bellamy, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of pity
Noun
  • Van Staden was joined in the sin-bin in the next minute by Cobus Reinach for a deliberate knock-on.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Aug. 2026
  • In academia, there is no greater sin than passing off another’s work as one’s own.
    — Roger J. Kreuz, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of sin
Noun
  • In November, she was indicted on seven additional felony charges related to a false claim of pregnancy involving a second victim, per Mitchell.
    — Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026
  • As quotas for immigration arrests increased that spring, he was asked to press felony charges for even minor aggressions against agents.
    — Emily Witt, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of felony
Noun
  • West has denied wrongdoing and asked the court to dismiss the claims.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Baldoni denied wrongdoing and accused Lively of concocting false allegations as part of an effort to wrest creative control of the film.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of wrongdoing

Browse Nearby Words

cries up
crime
crimes
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Crime.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crime. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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