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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Recent Examples of criminalizing
The policy also opposes legislation criminalizing the care.
—
Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 10 Feb. 2026
Mahan has described such policies as more compassionate than leaving people to suffer on the streets indefinitely, but advocates have accused him of criminalizing homelessness.
—Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 29 Jan. 2026
An Indiana bill criminalizing doxing passed on second reading in the Senate Thursday with an amendment attached.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
The court upheld the federal law criminalizing gun possession by someone subject to a domestic violence restraining order.
—Morgan Marietta, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 2026
City council members heard a proposal Monday night to modify the section of the Independence City Code restricting and criminalizing the ways that residents purchase, transport and consume cannabis.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 9 Jan. 2026
The ballot is dominated by parties perceived to be close to the military and hundreds have been arrested under a new law criminalizing obstruction, disruption and criticism of the poll.
—Ross Adkin, CNN Money, 27 Dec. 2025
On one thing, Newsom and I agree — criminalizing chronically absent students and their families is a bad idea.
—Jon England, Mercury News, 2 Dec. 2025
As outrage over the verdict catalyzed activist campaigns into criminalizing spousal rape in every state (only achieved, with many loopholes, in 1993) the town of Salem, Oregon just wanted to move on.
—Sarah Weinman, Rolling Stone, 9 Nov. 2025
Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 10 Feb. 2026
Mahan has described such policies as more compassionate than leaving people to suffer on the streets indefinitely, but advocates have accused him of criminalizing homelessness.
—Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 29 Jan. 2026
An Indiana bill criminalizing doxing passed on second reading in the Senate Thursday with an amendment attached.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
The court upheld the federal law criminalizing gun possession by someone subject to a domestic violence restraining order.
—Morgan Marietta, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 2026
City council members heard a proposal Monday night to modify the section of the Independence City Code restricting and criminalizing the ways that residents purchase, transport and consume cannabis.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 9 Jan. 2026
The ballot is dominated by parties perceived to be close to the military and hundreds have been arrested under a new law criminalizing obstruction, disruption and criticism of the poll.
—Ross Adkin, CNN Money, 27 Dec. 2025
On one thing, Newsom and I agree — criminalizing chronically absent students and their families is a bad idea.
—Jon England, Mercury News, 2 Dec. 2025
As outrage over the verdict catalyzed activist campaigns into criminalizing spousal rape in every state (only achieved, with many loopholes, in 1993) the town of Salem, Oregon just wanted to move on.
—Sarah Weinman, Rolling Stone, 9 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for criminalizing
Verb
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According to Mattus, the tree is relatively new to the invasive species list, but many states are now outlawing its sale—even the hybrids.—
Jennifer Lobb,
Martha Stewart,
30 Jan. 2026
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But some lawmakers in the State Affairs Committee bristled at the idea of outlawing all city and county flags.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Universities are under threat of government interference, book banning has reached unprecedented levels, journalists and artists and media outlets and attorneys are being punished, silenced, and doxed, and dissent everywhere is being criminalized.—
Gioia Woods,
Literary Hub,
6 Feb. 2026
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In June the City Council voted unanimously to make NoDa a congested business district, too, effectively banning street vending without a permit.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Criminalizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/criminalizing. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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