as in illegal
contrary to or forbidden by law
people should know with certainty that criminal behavior will be punished
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in offender
a person who has committed a crime
car thieves, pickpockets, burglars, and other criminals
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of criminal
Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Jan. 2025
Trump's directive gives all federal agencies a 60-day window to identify civil and criminal authorities available to combat antisemitism and deport anti-Jewish activists who broke any laws.
—Fox News Staff, Fox News, 30 Jan. 2025
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 30 Jan. 2025
Trump’s false claims about other countries emptying their jails of violent criminals to prey on Americans have been fact-checked and denied.
—Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for criminal 
Adjective
Dark comedy Fabula, by Dutch director Michiel ten Horn, about a provincial criminal grappling with personal and professional failures, will open the festival, the first Dutch movie to do so since 2018.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Jan. 2025
Trump's directive gives all federal agencies a 60-day window to identify civil and criminal authorities available to combat antisemitism and deport anti-Jewish activists who broke any laws.
—Fox News Staff, Fox News, 30 Jan. 2025
Noun
Our government pardoned and released back on the streets hundreds of violent criminals and felons who took part in the Capitol riot on Jan. 6.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 30 Jan. 2025
Trump’s false claims about other countries emptying their jails of violent criminals to prey on Americans have been fact-checked and denied.
—Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for criminal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for criminal
Adjective
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Louisville police say anything that goes into the air or explodes is illegal for average citizens.—
James Bruggers,
The Courier-Journal,
5 July 2017
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Official fireworks shows took place over the city, and illegal pyrotechnics lit up the sky everywhere in between.—
Lisa Beebe,
Los Angeles Magazine,
5 July 2017
Adjective
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The federal judge overseeing the states' case temporarily blocked the Trump administration from freezing federal assistance Friday after concluding that OMB's actions were likely unlawful.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
3 Feb. 2025
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Munoz was arrested on multiple counts, including first-degree kidnapping, menacing, unlawful use of a weapon and burglary, police said.—
Daniella Segura,
Sacramento Bee,
3 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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This is an easy argument to dismiss because most illicit drugs don't enter the U.S. via people sneaking across the border.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
26 Jan. 2025
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Yet, the defendants allegedly stole $44 million from the relief pool and chose to spend their illicit gains on jewelry, designer clothing, and luxury cars.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes,
25 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Walter went to trial again on Oct. 11, 2011, facing the same judge and the same charges of felonious assault and involuntary manslaughter.—
Emily Blackwood,
People.com,
10 Jan. 2025
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He was indicted in July and previously faced two counts of felonious assault and four counts of endangering children.—
Bailey Richards,
People.com,
29 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Federal Government redress of any wrongful dismissals is overdue.—
Avery Lotz,
Axios,
28 Jan. 2025
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Ford, who now lives in Pinellas County, Florida, is suing the city of San Diego and 20 unnamed defendants on multiple causes of action, including wrongful termination, gender discrimination and retaliation.—
Julia Marnin,
Sacramento Bee,
8 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near criminal
Cite this Entry
“Criminal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/criminal. Accessed 10 Feb. 2025.
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