criminalize

[ krim-uh-nl-ahyz ]

/ ˈkrɪm ə nlˌaɪz /

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verb (used with object), crim·i·nal·ized, crim·i·nal·iz·ing.

to make punishable as a crime: To reduce the graffiti on subway cars, he wants to criminalize the selling of spray paint to minors.

to make a criminal of: Drug use has criminalized him.

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Also especially British, crim·i·nal·ise .

Origin of criminalize

First recorded in 1955–60; criminal + -ize

OTHER WORDS FROM criminalize

crim·i·nal·i·za·tion, nounre·crim·i·nal·i·za·tion, nounre·crim·i·nal·ize, verb (used with object), re·crim·i·nal·ized, re·crim·i·nal·iz·ing.

Words nearby criminalize

criminal court, Criminal Investigation Department, criminalist, criminalistics, criminality, criminalize, criminal justice, criminal law, criminal lawyer, Criminal Records Bureau, criminal syndicalism

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use criminalize in a sentence

An excessive response could give the impression that authorities are criminalizing political views, which could worsen radicalization among right-wing groups and individuals for whom suspicion of government is a core tenet.
Global Right-Wing Extremism Networks Are Growing. The U.S. Is Just Now Catching Up.|by Sebastian Rotella|January 22, 2021|ProPublica
Elected officials and advocates hope the latest measures including the new matrix and the city and state laws criminalizing the use of chokeholds will lead to more substantive discipline.
Still Can’t Breathe|by Topher Sanders, ProPublica, and Yoav Gonen, THE CITY, video by Lucas Waldron, ProPublica|January 21, 2021|ProPublica
If the US can't prosecute Assange, it means there won't precedent criminalizing newsgathering.
Why Julian Assange’s victory does little to help the cause of press freedom|David Meyer|January 4, 2021|Fortune
We would be much better off seeking services in community-based behavioral health or family support programs than criminalizing this behavior.
Judges Are Locking Up Children for Noncriminal Offenses Like Repeatedly Disobeying Their Parents and Skipping School|by Jodi S. Cohen and Duaa Eldeib|December 22, 2020|ProPublica

Public health experts interviewed for this story raised questions about criminalizing this kind of behavior and said it could potentially be dangerous if it means people spend time in jail.
Restrictions on the South Texas Border Were Meant to Protect People From COVID-19. Then the Handcuffs Came Out.|by Vianna Davila and Ren Larson|December 19, 2020|ProPublica
I think if people were to realize that, it would be much harder to criminalize and dismiss us.
The Importance of Adult Classifieds|Hazlitt|September 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
No, Mr. Taranto, what America wants to do is criminalize rape.
George Will, a Worthy Heir to Todd Akin|Sally Kohn|June 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Despite this, in March Indian parliamentarians rejected proposals to criminalize marital rape.
Marital Rape Ruling Highlights India’s Problem With Consent|Amana Fontanella-Khan|May 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Now the attempt is somehow to criminalize bureaucratic error.
The B Is Back: The Benghazi Hearings Are Bullsh*t|Michael Tomasky|May 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The proposed legislation arrives in tandem with another law that would effectively criminalize graffiti.
Egypt’s Military Commemorates ‘Martyrs’ It Gunned Down|Alastair Beach|November 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for criminalize

criminalize

criminalise

/ (ˈkrɪmɪnəˌlaɪz) /

verb (tr)

to make (an action or activity) criminal

to treat (a person) as a criminal

Derived forms of criminalize

criminalization or criminalisation, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012