Synonyms of criminalizing

criminalizing

verb

present participle of criminalize

as in outlawing

to make or declare contrary to the law

wanted to criminalize an activity that the mountaineers had been engaging in for generations

Synonyms & Similar Words

• outlawing
• banning
• prohibiting
• illegalizing
• forbidding
• proscribing
• enjoining
• interdicting
• barring

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• legalizing
• permitting
• letting
• allowing
• decriminalizing
• suffering
• approving
• endorsing
• sanctioning

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of criminalizing

For example, Scalia famously cast the deciding vote in 1989 to hold unconstitutional a law criminalizing burning the American flag despite being a big patriot and despising such activities. — Brian Fitzpatrick, The Conversation, 28 Sep. 2026

This entails criminalizing everyday life and everyday forms of community. — Literary Hub, 24 Aug. 2026

Global human rights groups have criticized the jailing of the journalists and the denial of bail, asking the government to drop the charges against them and stop criminalizing news reporting. — ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026

Street vendors rallied outside Oakland City Hall Thursday, accusing the city of criminalizing people who are trying to earn a living as officials step up enforcement against unpermitted vending. — Da Lin, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026

This contrasts sharply with a federal judge's decision days earlier, blocking Minnesota from criminalizing prediction markets, a win for Kalshi and the CFTC who argue federal preemption. — Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026

Michael Olson, policy counsel for Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform, said criminalizing the distribution of sterile syringes is a mistake. — Maya Henry, Oklahoma Watch, 30 June 2026

According to Human Rights Watch, at least 67 countries have national laws criminalizing same-sex relations between consenting adults, and at least nine have criminalize forms of gender expression. — Rebecca Schneid, Time, 20 June 2026

Civil liberties advocates say the settlement underscores First Amendment protections for controversial online speech and warns law enforcement nationwide to tread carefully when criminalizing social media posts. — R.j. Rico, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2026