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
Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2025
The maternal aunt of a 22-year-old Harlem man who died in an upstate prison after an altercation with correction officers that is under criminal investigation demanded answers Friday.
—Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 7 Mar. 2025
Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 5 Mar. 2025
Judges in criminal cases can, and often do, suspend the sentence of a criminal found guilty or point to unique circumstances to limit jail time.
—Bill Hamilton, Baltimore Sun, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for criminal
Adjective
Michael Giano, 36, was charged Wednesday with two counts each of third-degree burglary and second-degree criminal mischief and a single count of sixth-degree larceny, according to the Wethersfield Police Department.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2025
The maternal aunt of a 22-year-old Harlem man who died in an upstate prison after an altercation with correction officers that is under criminal investigation demanded answers Friday.
—Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 7 Mar. 2025
Noun
Nemesis is the story of two men on either side of the law, the tale of what happens when an unstoppable force (an expert criminal), Coltrane Wilder (Noel), meets an immovable object (a brilliant police detective), Isaiah Stiles (Law).
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 5 Mar. 2025
Judges in criminal cases can, and often do, suspend the sentence of a criminal found guilty or point to unique circumstances to limit jail time.
—Bill Hamilton, Baltimore Sun, 5 Mar. 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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Legal experts say the moves are likely unlawful, workers complain they were sloppily handled, and the whole process runs the risk of doing long-term damage to critical workings of the federal government.—
Emily Peck,
Axios,
12 Mar. 2025
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The aim is to explore ways to build more confidence and more transparency on our nuclear energy program in return for the lifting of unlawful sanctions.—
Faisal Kutty,
Newsweek,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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According to a 2024 press release from America's Poison Centers, calls to poison centers for illicit fentanyl exposure in children under the age of 6 increased from 10 cases in 2016 to 539 in 2023.—
Megan Forrester,
ABC News,
5 Mar. 2025
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And Elliston Berry, who became a victim of an illicit deep fake image produced by a peer.—
TIME Staff,
TIME,
5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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In addition to murder, Dustin M. Thompson, 36, is facing charges of felonious assault and possession of criminal tools, court records filed March 5 in Franklin County show.—
Mitchell Willetts,
Kansas City Star,
6 Mar. 2025
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Court records show Cook was charged with felonious assault.—
Mike Stunson,
Kansas City Star,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The clemency plea also has the backing of the Innocence Project, which investigates wrongful convictions.—
Graham Rayman,
New York Daily News,
13 Mar. 2025
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Prosecutorial misconduct such as withholding evidence accounted for about 60% of wrongful convictions in Louisiana, nearly twice the national average, according to the registry.—
Richard A. Webster,
ProPublica,
11 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Criminal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/criminal. Accessed 19 Mar. 2025.
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