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
Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 7 Sep. 2025
Critical national infrastructure is being targeted across Western nations by various cyber-criminal and hacktivist groups, as well as state actors.
—Brian Walsh, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2025
Christina Newland, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Advertisement The capture in Goa Given his previous experience with the criminal, Zende was assigned to lead the operation to recapture him.
—Isadora Wandermurem, Time, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for criminal
Adjective
According to a criminal complaint, Briceno, whom authorities said is an undocumented immigrant, used a firearm to shoot inside the doorway of the bar and then discarded the firearm, which law enforcement never recovered.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 7 Sep. 2025
Critical national infrastructure is being targeted across Western nations by various cyber-criminal and hacktivist groups, as well as state actors.
—Brian Walsh, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2025
Noun
With its buzzy energy and sympathetic — if bumbling — criminals, Lumet withholds crucial information from the viewer until the final portion of the film.
—Christina Newland, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Advertisement The capture in Goa Given his previous experience with the criminal, Zende was assigned to lead the operation to recapture him.
—Isadora Wandermurem, Time, 5 Sep. 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
Noun
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Insist that the federal government deploy those resources to get the violent offenders who are killing, assaulting and robbing law-abiding citizens on the city’s South and West sides.—
Laura Washington,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Sep. 2025
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Kentucky's persistent felony offender (PFO) law, enacted in 1974 and expanded in 1976, allows for enhanced sentences for repeat felony offenders.—
Quinlan Bentley,
The Enquirer,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Green, of Jackson Township, has been charged with murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon in connection with Reid's death, according to Billhimer.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
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The world’s highest court, the International Court of Justice, has ruled that there is a plausible risk of genocide in Gaza, and that Israel’s occupation and apartheid against Palestinians are unlawful.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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For Missouri, 2022 was such a deadly year — 43 children under the age of 18 died from the illicit drug — that former DSS director Robert Knodell created the Fentanyl Case Review Subcommittee, which was a panel of experts who studied those cases.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
7 Sep. 2025
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Despite being legal, the illicit market is thriving, with only 38% of the cannabis consumed in California coming from licensed growers, according to a 2024 report released by the state Department of Cannabis Control.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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One man involved is both considered a victim of felonious assault and has been charged with disorderly conduct.—
Kevin Grasha,
The Enquirer,
29 Aug. 2025
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Both men face felonious breaking and entering charges and remain in custody at the Hamilton County Justice Center.—
David Ferrara,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
24 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Actress Grace Van Patten portrayed Knox as the show explored her wrongful conviction for the death of her roommate in Italy.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
28 Aug. 2025
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And in the case of wrongful acquittal, such as ours, the same principle should apply.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Criminal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/criminal. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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