criminalize

[ krim-uh-nl-ahyz ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

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.

criminalize

/ ˈkrɪmɪnəˌlaɪz /

crimi·nal·i·zation noun
recrim·i·nal·i·zation noun
re·crimi·nal·ize verb (used with object) recriminalized recriminalizing

First recorded in 1955–60; criminal + -ize

I think if people were to realize that, it would be much harder to criminalize and dismiss us.

No, Mr. Taranto, what America wants to do is criminalize rape.

Despite this, in March Indian parliamentarians rejected proposals to criminalize marital rape.

Now the attempt is somehow to criminalize bureaucratic error.

The proposed legislation arrives in tandem with another law that would effectively criminalize graffiti.

April 25, 2024firkin

[fur-kin ]

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