criminalize

crim·i·nal·ize  (krm-n-lz)

tr.v. crim·i·nal·ized, crim·i·nal·iz·ing, crim·i·nal·iz·es

1. To impose a criminal penalty on or for; outlaw.

2. To treat as a criminal.

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crimi·nal·i·zation (-l-zshn) n.

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criminalize or -ise

Verb

[-izing, -ized] or -ising, -ised

1. to make (an action or activity) criminal

2. to treat (a person) as a criminal

Thesaurus

Verb	1.	criminalize - treat as a criminal do by, treat, handle - interact in a certain way; "Do right by her"; "Treat him with caution, please"; "Handle the press reporters gently"
	2.	criminalize - declare illegal; outlaw; "Marijuana is criminalized in the U.S." criminalise, illegalise, illegalize, outlaw nix, prohibit, proscribe, disallow, forbid, interdict, veto - command against; "I forbid you to call me late at night"; "Mother vetoed the trip to the chocolate store"; "Dad nixed our plans" ban, censor - forbid the public distribution of ( a movie or a newspaper) decriminalise, decriminalize, legalise, legalize, legitimate, legitimatise, legitimatize, legitimise, legitimize - make legal; "Marijuana should be legalized"