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

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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 offence
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 Add to that the toll AIDs, the crack epidemic, and violent crime had exacted on American cities and the context of the crackdown becomes more clear. —Andrew Pasquier, Them., 18 Sep. 2025 Think of Lester from Season 1 who kills his wife and then goes to great lengths to cover up his crime. —Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025 The more surgical approach allows the department to address crime and its root causes without inundating communities with officers. —Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Sep. 2025 My vision is to tie in some top A-list actresses and music artists to create a hot sexy crime thriller. —Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 18 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for crime
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crime
  1. criminality
  2. shame
  3. pity
  4. violation
  5. sin
  6. felony
Noun
  • In North Carolina, as in other Southern states, newspapers in the Jim Crow era often egregiously exaggerated stories about Black criminality.
    — Carlo Versano, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Hanson parlayed his small-time criminality into a risky alliance with a powerful Mexican drug lord, intertwining his quest for wealth with the deadly world of organized crime.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
Definition of criminality
Noun
  • There is no shame in a nonlinear path, no imperfection in a winding career.
    — Barbara Wittmann, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Sometimes, when patients and doctors shame insurers online, denials get overturned.
    — Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Sep. 2025
Definition of shame
Noun
  • Leonora’s smile held pity in it.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2025
  • There was little pity from adults.
    — John Blake, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2025
Definition of pity
Noun
  • The violation is the eleventh recorded since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began, according to Defense Ministry figures provided to ABC News.
    — David Brennan, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2025
  • From spoiled chicken to dead cockroaches, health inspectors in Missouri and Kansas found numerous violations at Kansas City area restaurants last week.
    — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 14 Sep. 2025
Definition of violation
Noun
  • The Sagrada Família was founded as an expiatory church, meaning that it would be financed by prayerful donations from people atoning for their sins.
    — D. T. Max, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Lee and her brother William would preach far and wide to attract people to their cause (a necessity, given the lifetime celibacy requirement) and their pursuit of a utopian society free of any and all sin.
    — Barry Levitt, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
Definition of sin
Noun
  • Smith is charged with felony murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, concealing the death of another and tampering with evidence.
    — Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Robinson also faces one count of felony discharge of a firearm and one count commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child.
    — Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 17 Sep. 2025
Definition of felony

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 22 Sep. 2025.

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