Criminalize (Verb)
Meaning 1
Treat as a criminal.
Classification
Verbs of political and social activities and events.
Examples
- The government vote aimed to criminalize all forms of teenage vaping in public spaces.
- Proposed legislation seeks to criminalize protests that disrupt major highways and roads.
- Politicians are strongly divided on the issue of whether to criminalize all persons involved in organized trespassing.
- Several countries have made significant steps towards not criminalize individuals found with possession of small amounts of illicit substances for personal use.
- This week's report discusses if the newly proposed law will criminalize those involved in spreading misinformation during election periods.
Hypernyms
Related Words
Meaning 2
Declare illegal; outlaw; "Marijuana is criminalized in the U.S.".
Classification
Verbs of political and social activities and events.
Examples
- Attempts to criminalize homelessness often shift the focus away from poverty and social issues.
- Some people argue that jaywalking should be criminalized while others see it as a minor infraction.
- In many countries, same-sex marriage was previously criminalized but has since been legalized.
- Cannabis has long been criminalized, despite movements to decriminalize its use.
- Governments should stop trying to criminalize certain professions and focus on regulating them instead.