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
Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2025
Amid calls for accountability for the death of a Fort Worth man in the Tarrant County Jail, the sheriff’s office has refused to release video footage of the in-custody death, citing its role in a criminal investigation.
—Cody Copeland, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Feb. 2025
Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 20 Feb. 2025
In 2025, cyberspace is especially challenging to secure due to criminals being able to operate from just about anywhere.
—Chad Sands, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for criminal
Adjective
Prior to that, he was busted in August for misdemeanor assault after punching a woman in the head and face, according to the criminal complaint against him.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2025
Amid calls for accountability for the death of a Fort Worth man in the Tarrant County Jail, the sheriff’s office has refused to release video footage of the in-custody death, citing its role in a criminal investigation.
—Cody Copeland, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Feb. 2025
Noun
Every state, even Midwestern states like my home state of Indiana, were put on the front lines—forced to combat a surge of drugs and foreign criminals.
—Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 20 Feb. 2025
In 2025, cyberspace is especially challenging to secure due to criminals being able to operate from just about anywhere.
—Chad Sands, Forbes, 19 Feb. 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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Alsup’s order is a temporary measure that requires OPM to notify agencies that its directive was unlawful.—
Ashley Oliver,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
28 Feb. 2025
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Their actions have sparked numerous lawsuits, and on Thursday, a federal judge in California found that the mass firings of probationary employees were likely unlawful.—
Kristin Brown,
CBS News,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Toxicology results also found there were no illicit drugs in her system.—
Alex Gurley,
People.com,
19 Feb. 2025
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That includes caffeine, alcohol, and illicit drugs, says Dr. Lokesh Shahani, a psychiatrist with UTHealth Houston.—
Angela Haupt,
TIME,
18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Court records show Cook was charged with felonious assault.—
Mike Stunson,
Kansas City Star,
24 Feb. 2025
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Axe and Carawan were both charged with felonious aiding and abetting escape and conspiracy to aid and abet escape.—
Charna Flam,
People.com,
29 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Permanent workers can also go directly to the Merit Systems Protection Board in order to get a decision on a wrongful firing, but probationary employees can only get there if the Office of Special Counsel represents them.—
Erin Mansfield,
USA TODAY,
1 Mar. 2025
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Florida is the only state with a wrongful incarceration compensation program that excludes people with prior felonies, a restriction that makes the vast majority of exonerees in the state ineligible for payments.—
Dara Kam,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Criminal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/criminal. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
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