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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of criminal
Zach Wichter, USA TODAY, 19 Dec. 2024
Ver’s case also serves as a reminder that with criminal tax matters, the U.S. government has certain helpful provisions in the tax law that can extend the statute of limitations.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024
7news Wjla (washington), Baltimore Sun, 16 Dec. 2024
Adult Kraven wants Calypso, a lawyer, to help him on his murderous crusade against criminals like his father.
—Charles Pulliam-Moore, The Verge, 13 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for criminal 
Adjective
Pointing a laser at an airplane is a federal crime, and conviction can result in civil and criminal penalties and up to five years in jail.
—Zach Wichter, USA TODAY, 19 Dec. 2024
Ver’s case also serves as a reminder that with criminal tax matters, the U.S. government has certain helpful provisions in the tax law that can extend the statute of limitations.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024
Noun
While immigration enforcement targeting a small number of dangerous criminals is sensible, President Trump’s plan to launch indiscriminate mass deportations will lead to a decline in public trust of law enforcement and, therefore, a rise in unsolved crimes.
—7news Wjla (washington), Baltimore Sun, 16 Dec. 2024
Adult Kraven wants Calypso, a lawyer, to help him on his murderous crusade against criminals like his father.
—Charles Pulliam-Moore, The Verge, 13 Dec. 2024
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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Currently incarcerated in Utah, YoungBoy faces six charges of possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, as well as charges related to a pattern of unlawful activity stemming from a May 2023 arrest.Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 11 Dec. 2024
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Some are called because of incorrect ingredient information on packet labels or unlawful importation, for example.Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Most drones that are sighted appear to be larger than typical hobbyist models, which has also heightened concerns about their potential use for surveillance or other illicit purposes.Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 14 Dec. 2024
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The woman, 29, arrived at Auckland International Airport in New Zealand on a flight from Vancouver on December 8 carrying the illicit drugs in her carry-on bag, according to a release from the New Zealand Customs Service.Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 14 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Durbin was convicted of two counts of felonious assault during a November jury trial.Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 20 Dec. 2024
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In the dark comedy, created by showrunner duo Brian Donovan and Ed Herro, Martindale plays a foulmouthed, no-nonsense maple farmer who becomes the felonious trio’s leader.Daniel Vaillancourt, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Recent works include Camino Ghosts (May 2024), the third book in his Camino Island series, and Framed (October 2024), a non-fiction exploration of wrongful convictions, co-written with Jim McCloskey.Matt Grobar, Deadline, 11 Dec. 2024
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The Kamara family filed a legal claim against San Diego County last spring alleging wrongful arrest and death and seeking unspecified damages.Jeff Mcdonald, The Mercury News, 10 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near criminal
Cite this Entry
“Criminal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/criminal. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.
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