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
Governor Ron DeSantis recently endorsed child labor as a fix for worker shortages caused by mass deportations and by a new state law criminalizing undocumented immigrants.
—
E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 22 Apr. 2025
Whereas the Catholic Church in 2008, under Benedict XVI, had refused to sign a United Nations declaration calling for the repeal of laws criminalizing homosexuality, Francis chose a different course.
—Randall Balmer, Time, 21 Apr. 2025
The Miami-Dade County Commission is also reviewing an ordinance that would criminalize the resale of DMV appointments.
—Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2025
The legislation didn't criminalize marijuana but rather imposed punishable fines on people who didn't pay necessary taxes, according to the Rockefeller Institute of Government.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for criminalize
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E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 22 Apr. 2025
Whereas the Catholic Church in 2008, under Benedict XVI, had refused to sign a United Nations declaration calling for the repeal of laws criminalizing homosexuality, Francis chose a different course.
—Randall Balmer, Time, 21 Apr. 2025
The Miami-Dade County Commission is also reviewing an ordinance that would criminalize the resale of DMV appointments.
—Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2025
The legislation didn't criminalize marijuana but rather imposed punishable fines on people who didn't pay necessary taxes, according to the Rockefeller Institute of Government.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for criminalize
Cite this Entry
“Criminalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/criminalize. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
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?
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