decriminalize
verb (used with object)
to eliminate criminal penalties for or remove legal restrictions against.
are decriminalizing
-
present progressiveof decriminalize.present progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or state that is currently taking place in the immediate present.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
If you do not do that, Mr. Carlin said in an interview on Wednesday, “the message you are sending is that you are decriminalizing this activity.”
From New York Times ● Jul. 22, 2020
Meanwhile, states all over the country are decriminalizing certain misdemeanor offenses so that people who are caught doing illegal but not-actually-very-bad things are punished less severely than they used to be.
From Slate ● Feb. 17, 2015
