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
Rob Wieland, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
The teenager, who pleaded guilty to five charges, was also charged with two counts of criminal damage.
—Becca Longmire, People.com, 17 Jan. 2025
Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 2 Jan. 2025
Though criminals may be targeted first in any mass deportation, this move in Florida is chilling for Dreamers, who have been handed curveball after curveball by different administrations.
—Miami Herald Editorial Board, Orlando Sentinel, 2 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for criminal 
Adjective
These can all make great rivals for the criminal mastermind gangs as well.
—Rob Wieland, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
The teenager, who pleaded guilty to five charges, was also charged with two counts of criminal damage.
—Becca Longmire, People.com, 17 Jan. 2025
Noun
Gina’s story is a horrifying study in how police, prosecutors and judges fail to protect troubled kids who are lured into drugs and prostitution, treating them as juvenile delinquents – and even criminals – instead of protecting them and punishing the suspects accused of preying upon them.
—Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 2 Jan. 2025
Though criminals may be targeted first in any mass deportation, this move in Florida is chilling for Dreamers, who have been handed curveball after curveball by different administrations.
—Miami Herald Editorial Board, Orlando Sentinel, 2 Jan. 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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In finding the defendant guilty in this case, the jury necessarily found unanimously that the defendant falsified 34 separate entries in his business records with the intent to defraud, which included an intent to commit or conceal a conspiracy to promote his own election by unlawful means.ABC NEWS, ABC News, 10 Jan. 2025
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Capitol Police identified him Thursday as Adrian J. Hinton, 35, saying he was arrested for unlawful activities.Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Throughout the Biden administration, Cuba has worked with U.S. law enforcement – primarily through its engagement with the FBI as well as through the multilateral body Financial Action Task Force – to combat illicit financing, including the funding of terrorism.Jason M. Blazakis, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2025
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Though police and prosecutors in at least two counties have joined forces to aggressively tackle the illicit drug together, few agencies in the rest of the region have made investigating fentanyl deaths a priority, the Star found.Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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He was indicted in July and previously faced two counts of felonious assault and four counts of endangering children.Bailey Richards, People.com, 29 Dec. 2024
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Charles Edmonson, 64, pleaded guilty Friday in Clermont County Common Pleas Court to kidnapping, felonious assault and three counts of child endangering.Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 27 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Drawing parallels with current cases of wrongful convictions.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 12 Jan. 2025
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Velasquez was recently exonerated after a wrongful murder conviction was overturned following his 24 years behind bars.Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 10 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near criminal
Cite this Entry
“Criminal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/criminal. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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