Synonyms for criminal
ˈkrɪm ə nlcrim·i·nal

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. criminalnoun

   Synonyms:
   offender, lawbreaker, illegal, perpetrator

2. criminaladjective

   Being against the law; forbidden by law.

   Synonyms:
   lawbreaker, offender, perpetrator, illegal

3. criminaladjective

   Guilty of breaking the law.

   Synonyms:
   illegal

4. criminaladjective

   Of or relating to crime.

   Synonyms:
   illegal

5. criminaladjective

   Abhorrent or very undesirable, even if allowed by law.

   Printing such asinine opinions without rebuttal is criminal, even when not libel!

   Synonyms:
   illegal

6. criminaladjective

   Of or relating to crime control, notably penal law.

   His criminal record shows his resistance to all crime prevention and - repression.

   Synonyms:
   illegal

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. criminal

   Every criminal act is illegal or unlawful, but illegal or unlawful acts may not be criminal. Offenses against public law are criminal; offenses against private rights are merely illegal or unlawful. As a general rule, all acts punishable by fine or imprisonment or both, are criminal in view of the law. It is illegal for a man to trespass on another's land, but it is not criminal; the trespasser is liable to a civil suit for damages, but not to indictment, fine, or imprisonment. A felonious act is a criminal act of an aggravated kind, which is punishable by imprisonment in the penitentiary or by death. A flagitious crime is one that brings public odium. Vicious refers to the indulgence of evil appetites, habits, or passions; vicious acts are not necessarily criminal, or even illegal; we speak of a vicious horse. That which is iniquitous, i. e., contrary to equity, may sometimes be done under the forms of law. Ingratitude is sinful, hypocrisy is wicked, but neither is punishable by human law; hence, neither is criminal or illegal. Compare SIN.

   Synonyms:
   abominable, culpable, felonious, flagitious, guilty, illegal, immoral, iniquitous, nefarious, sinful, unlawful, vicious, vile, wicked, wrong

   Antonyms:
   innocent, just, lawful, legal, meritorious, moral, right, virtuous

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. criminal

   Synonyms:
   illegal, felonious, vicious, culpable, wrong, iniquitous, sinful, immoral, guilty, nefarious, flagitious

   Antonyms:
   lawful, virtuous, right, jury innocent, moral, meritorious, creditable, honorable, praiseworthy, laudable

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. criminal, felon, crook, outlaw, malefactoradjective

   someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime

   Synonyms:
   whitlow, twist, shepherd's crook, malefactor, bend, turn, crook, felon, outlaw

   Antonyms:
   guiltless, clean-handed, right, innocent, legal

2. condemnable, criminal, deplorable, reprehensible, viciousadjective

   bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure

   "a criminal waste of talent"; "a deplorable act of violence"; "adultery is as reprehensible for a husband as for a wife"

   Synonyms:
   felonious, savage, reprehensible, fell, pitiful, venomous, miserable, lamentable, deplorable, roughshod, evil, cruel, barbarous, vicious, poisonous, woeful, condemnable, wretched, distressing, execrable, brutal, sorry, sad

   Antonyms:
   right, guiltless, innocent, clean-handed, legal

3. criminaladjective

   guilty of crime or serious offense

   "criminal in the sight of God and man"

   Synonyms:
   deplorable, felonious, vicious, condemnable, reprehensible

   Antonyms:
   clean-handed, legal, guiltless, right, innocent

4. criminal, feloniousadjective

   involving or being or having the nature of a crime

   "a criminal offense"; "criminal abuse"; "felonious intent"

   Synonyms:
   deplorable, felonious, vicious, condemnable, reprehensible

   Antonyms:
   innocent, guiltless, right, clean-handed, legal

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. criminaladjective

   Synonyms:
   wrong, contrary to law

2. criminaladjective

   Synonyms:
   culpable, guilty

3. criminalnoun

   Synonyms:
   culprit, delinquent, offender, transgressor, trespasser, malefactor, convict, felon

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. criminaladjective

   Synonyms:
   felonious, flagitious

2. criminalnoun

   Synonyms:
   felon, malefactor, culprit, criminaloid

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "criminal":

   penal, crime, criminals, pénale, criminal-law, felon, divisional, crimes, judicial, offence, pénales, offences, offenders, offender

Suggested Resources

1. criminal

   Song lyrics by criminal -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by criminal on the Lyrics.com website.

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How to use criminal in a sentence?

1. Charles Krauthammer:

   In the ads, Trump is saying she's under criminal investigation. That revives everything that had been buried and banished when he gave her this sort of semi-exoneration in July.

2. President Barack Obama on Thursday:

   More people are realizing that ISIL is not a caliphate, it's a crime ring. It's a criminal gang pretending to be a state, said one Syrian refugee. They turned out to be thieves, said another, iSIL, according to one Syrian, has made an enemy of almost everyone. So they're not winning over hearts and minds, and they're under severe pressure.

3. Sir. Barron Qasem II:

   When the knife lands you in prison, you're a criminal; when the pen leads you there, you're a fighter.

4. Mark Potok:

   Domestic terrorists and other extremists with criminal intentions also are increasingly acting alone, choosing to commit lethal attacks without the help of an organized group.

5. Robert Litt:

   I would have thought that The Justice Department had looked at all possibility of criminal liability before determining there was nothing to investigate here.