criminalize
verb
crim·i·nal·ize
ˈkri-mə-nə-ˌlīz 
ˈkrim-nə-ˌlīz
criminalized; criminalizing
: to make illegal
also
: to turn into a criminal or treat as criminal
Examples of criminalize in a Sentence
a law that criminalized alcohol
wanted to criminalize an activity that the mountaineers had been engaging in for generations
Recent Examples on the Web
Lai, a billionaire media tycoon who had long been a thorn in the side of Beijing, was arrested in August 2020, shortly after the central Chinese government imposed a national security law that criminalizes secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces.
—
Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024
Local jurisdictions now have the authority to enforce ordinances that criminalize behaviors associated with being unhoused — like sleeping on public property — even when no shelter is available.
—Jessica Boehm, Axios, 29 Oct. 2024
The delayed care occurred in the aftermath of a new state law that criminalized performing the procedure to remove fetal tissue from the uterus with few exceptions, legislation that reproductive-rights advocates said could scare away doctors from performing the surgery for fear of prosecution.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2024
Between the lines: Last year, Gloria also successfully pushed the city council to adopt a broad prohibition on camping in public to combat homeless encampments, angering the city's progressive base by criminalizing homelessness.
—Andrew Keatts, Axios, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for criminalize 
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Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024
Local jurisdictions now have the authority to enforce ordinances that criminalize behaviors associated with being unhoused — like sleeping on public property — even when no shelter is available.
—Jessica Boehm, Axios, 29 Oct. 2024
The delayed care occurred in the aftermath of a new state law that criminalized performing the procedure to remove fetal tissue from the uterus with few exceptions, legislation that reproductive-rights advocates said could scare away doctors from performing the surgery for fear of prosecution.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2024
Between the lines: Last year, Gloria also successfully pushed the city council to adopt a broad prohibition on camping in public to combat homeless encampments, angering the city's progressive base by criminalizing homelessness.
—Andrew Keatts, Axios, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for criminalize
Dictionary Entries Near criminalize
Cite this Entry
“Criminalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/criminalize. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
criminalize
transitive verb
crim·i·nal·ize
ˈkri-mə-nə-ˌlīz
criminalized; criminalizing
: to make criminal : outlaw
the statute criminalizing the use of contraceptives—R. H. Bork
compare illegalize
R. H. BorkLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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