Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Showing results for criminal. Search instead for crimin.
Definitions

criminal

[krim-uh-nl] / ˈkrɪm ə nl /
ADJECTIVE
lawless, felonious
Synonyms
STRONGEST
corrupt deplorable illegal illegitimate illicit scandalous senseless unlawful vicious
STRONG
bent heavy racket wildcat wrong
WEAK
caught crooked culpable dirty hung up indictable iniquitous nefarious off base out of line peccant shady smoking gun unrighteous villainous wicked
Antonyms
STRONGEST
authorized blessed ethical good kind lawful legal legitimate moral noble proper pure right uncorrupt
WEAK
correct righteous
NOUN
person who breaks the law
Synonyms
STRONGEST
convict crook culprit felon fugitive gangster hoodlum hooligan lawbreaker mobster offender thug
STRONG
bad guy bad person baddie baddy blackmailer con delinquent desperado deuce evildoer guerrilla heavy hood hustler jailbird malefactor mug muscle outlaw racketeer repeater scofflaw sinner transgressor trespasser wrongdoer yardbird
WEAK
bad actor black marketeer ex-con inside person slippery eel
Antonyms
STRONGEST
police
WEAK
law

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Under growing pressure, the government appointed a special investigator to probe whether current and former soldiers should face criminal charges.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

A federal judge in Manhattan ruled in February that when a criminal defendant used an AI chatbot to prepare for his legal defense, he waived attorney-client privilege.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

“Choosing not to file or pay as a form of protest can result in penalties, interest, and potentially criminal liability for willful noncompliance,” she added.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 6, 2026

The students had never seen a criminal case file before, but already, they thought they were on to something.

From Slate • Apr. 6, 2026

Some of the pressure to find work comes directly from the criminal justice system.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.