criminalize
verb
crim·i·nal·ize
ˈkri-mə-nə-ˌlīz 
ˈkrim-nə-ˌlīz
criminalized; criminalizing
: to make illegal
also
: to turn into a criminal or treat as criminal
Examples of criminalize in a Sentence
a law that criminalized alcohol
wanted to criminalize an activity that the mountaineers had been engaging in for generations
Recent Examples on the Web
Lai, a billionaire media tycoon who had long been a thorn in the side of Beijing, was arrested in August 2020, shortly after the central Chinese government imposed a national security law that criminalizes secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces.
—
Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024
Local jurisdictions now have the authority to enforce ordinances that criminalize behaviors associated with being unhoused — like sleeping on public property — even when no shelter is available.
—Jessica Boehm, Axios, 29 Oct. 2024
The delayed care occurred in the aftermath of a new state law that criminalized performing the procedure to remove fetal tissue from the uterus with few exceptions, legislation that reproductive-rights advocates said could scare away doctors from performing the surgery for fear of prosecution.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2024
Between the lines: Last year, Gloria also successfully pushed the city council to adopt a broad prohibition on camping in public to combat homeless encampments, angering the city's progressive base by criminalizing homelessness.
—Andrew Keatts, Axios, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for criminalize 
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.
Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024
Local jurisdictions now have the authority to enforce ordinances that criminalize behaviors associated with being unhoused — like sleeping on public property — even when no shelter is available.
—Jessica Boehm, Axios, 29 Oct. 2024
The delayed care occurred in the aftermath of a new state law that criminalized performing the procedure to remove fetal tissue from the uterus with few exceptions, legislation that reproductive-rights advocates said could scare away doctors from performing the surgery for fear of prosecution.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2024
Between the lines: Last year, Gloria also successfully pushed the city council to adopt a broad prohibition on camping in public to combat homeless encampments, angering the city's progressive base by criminalizing homelessness.
—Andrew Keatts, Axios, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for criminalize
Dictionary Entries Near criminalize
Cite this Entry
“Criminalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/criminalize. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
criminalize
transitive verb
crim·i·nal·ize
ˈkri-mə-nə-ˌlīz
criminalized; criminalizing
: to make criminal : outlaw
the statute criminalizing the use of contraceptives—R. H. Bork
compare illegalize
R. H. BorkLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share