CRIMINALIZING Synonyms: 19 Similar and Opposite Words

criminalizing

verb

present participle of criminalize

as in outlawing

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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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 criminalizing This entails criminalizing everyday life and everyday forms of community. — Literary Hub, 24 Aug. 2026 Global human rights groups have criticized the jailing of the journalists and the denial of bail, asking the government to drop the charges against them and stop criminalizing news reporting. — ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026 Street vendors rallied outside Oakland City Hall Thursday, accusing the city of criminalizing people who are trying to earn a living as officials step up enforcement against unpermitted vending. — Da Lin, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026 This contrasts sharply with a federal judge's decision days earlier, blocking Minnesota from criminalizing prediction markets, a win for Kalshi and the CFTC who argue federal preemption. — Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026 Michael Olson, policy counsel for Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform, said criminalizing the distribution of sterile syringes is a mistake. — Maya Henry, Oklahoma Watch, 30 June 2026 According to Human Rights Watch, at least 67 countries have national laws criminalizing same-sex relations between consenting adults, and at least nine have criminalize forms of gender expression. — Rebecca Schneid, Time, 20 June 2026 Civil liberties advocates say the settlement underscores First Amendment protections for controversial online speech and warns law enforcement nationwide to tread carefully when criminalizing social media posts. — R.j. Rico, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2026 Under President John Adams, the Federalists sought to eradicate French ideological influence by raising the bar to citizenship, lowering the bar to deportation, and criminalizing malicious criticism of the federal government. — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for criminalizing

Verb

Southern Nevada has already dramatically reduced its use of Colorado River water by about 40% over the last 25 years, including by aggressively promoting the removal of thirsty grass and outlawing front-yard lawns for new subdivisions.

— Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026
Some leagues will require the same number of players to switch teams, essentially outlawing a 2-for-1 or 3-for-2 exchange.

— Sports Betting, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of outlawing

Verb

In New York, a bill banning surveillance pricing is awaiting the governor’s signature.

— Audrey McGlinchy, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
This month, the bureau's parent agency, the Commerce Department, quietly cut language banning political interference from the department's scientific integrity policy, NPR has learned.

— Hansi Lo Wang, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of banning

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criminalizes

criminalizing

criminal lawyer

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“Criminalizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/criminalizing. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of criminalizing

verb

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