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
His government has criminalized fundamental rights, such as peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, while silencing dissent and stifling civil society.
—
Tatsiana Kulakevich, The Conversation, 23 Jan. 2025
This bill, however, would have criminalized these federally legal products for small businesses while allowing corporate marijuana companies to dominate the market.
—Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 2025
Today, the State Department has teams dedicated to advocating for LGBTQ+ rights abroad, through embassies and sometimes in countries where homosexuality is criminalized.
—Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2024
One of the president’s executive orders was to instruct the U.S. attorney general to abstain for 75 days from enforcing the law criminalizing its hosting and distribution.
—Kelly Evans, CNBC, 21 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for criminalize 
Tatsiana Kulakevich, The Conversation, 23 Jan. 2025
This bill, however, would have criminalized these federally legal products for small businesses while allowing corporate marijuana companies to dominate the market.
—Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 2025
Today, the State Department has teams dedicated to advocating for LGBTQ+ rights abroad, through embassies and sometimes in countries where homosexuality is criminalized.
—Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2024
One of the president’s executive orders was to instruct the U.S. attorney general to abstain for 75 days from enforcing the law criminalizing its hosting and distribution.
—Kelly Evans, CNBC, 21 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for criminalize
Thesaurus Entries Near criminalize
Cite this Entry
“Criminalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/criminalize. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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