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 Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? —Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026 Shadé’s Law, passed in 2019, now prohibits people convicted of certain violent crimes from buying or possessing such weapons. —Allen G. Breed, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026 Gaff ultimately admitted to his crimes in open court and provided details consistent with the determinations of police investigations, according to police. —Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 14 May 2026 The perpetrators of these crimes are savage animals without a shred of humanity. —Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 14 May 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
  • The agency is on the clock with its investigations, mandated by the state to complete accident investigations within six months, and, sources said, delays affect its ability to assess fines and determine criminality, and may have harmed families ability to receive restitution.
    — Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 6 May 2026
  • But the public image was always one of criminality rather than survival.
    — Pablo Larios, Artforum, 6 May 2026
Definition of criminality
Noun
  • Bryna Laub, editor of Daytime Serial Newsletter, felt the show besmirched the sanctity of soaps and contributed to the broader currents of shame surrounding the genre.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
  • There’s no shame in the aging game, though.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 18 May 2026
Definition of shame
Noun
  • Kapoor, who had moved from Atlanta to Miami to attend college, faces 10 years or more in prison on the money-laundering and payroll-tax violations.
    — Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 14 May 2026
  • In 2020, longtime TCC instructor and program director Jeff McDonald sued the college for breach of contract, constitutional violations and deprivation of property interests without due process.
    — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026
Definition of violation
Noun
  • In the case, prosecutors accused Murdaugh of carrying out the killings to earn pity and distract from financial crimes that threatened to derail his public reputation.
    — Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 13 May 2026
  • Even the pictures that are particularly charged in this context rebuke our pity, reminding us that generations of kin come and go in most other households, too.
    — Casey Cep, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
Definition of pity
Noun
  • Her chief lieutenants in this operation are Bronco (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Sid (Henry Cavill), who specialize in intimidation, surveillance, bribery, and other assorted sins.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 15 May 2026
  • First-time filmmakers can usually be forgiven some of these sins, only most viewers might not realize that this is Luna’s fifth go in the director’s chair.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 14 May 2026
Definition of sin
Noun
  • The 31-year-old man instead pleaded guilty on May 8 as part of a deal to reckless manslaughter, a felony, according to court records.
    — Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 19 May 2026
  • Another was arrested at his home on suspicion of felony hit-and-run causing great bodily injury or death.
    — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 19 May 2026
Definition of felony
Noun
  • But that didn’t happen, and now the build-up to the play-off final on May 23, the most lucrative game in football, is going to be dominated by discussions over whether Southampton should be thrown out if they are found guilty of wrongdoing.
    — Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 13 May 2026
  • The newspaper has denied wrongdoing in ongoing litigation over the matter.
    — BrieAnna J. Frank, USA Today, 13 May 2026
Definition of wrongdoing

Browse Nearby Words

cries up
crime
crimes
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Cite this Entry

“Crime.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crime. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on crime

Nglish: Translation of crime for Spanish Speakers

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