criminal
One who offends
Criminal describes people, actions, or matters relating to crime and its prosecution.
A criminal act violates laws that can result in punishment by the state; criminal law is the body of law dealing with such offenses, distinct from civil law.
As a noun, a criminal is someone who has committed a crime.
The word extends figuratively to characterize anything outrageously wrong or wasteful: It's criminal how much food gets thrown away.
The criminal justice system needs reform.
He has no criminal record.
One who commits wrongdoing
- culpritPerson found guilty
- felonSerious crime perpetrator
- delinquentFailing in duty
- malefactorOne who does harm
wrongdoer · lawbreaker · transgressor · violator · convict · recidivist · suspect · defendant
Dishonest, unscrupulous person
- crookBent implement or criminal
- villainWicked story antagonist
- swindlerPerson who deceives for money
- con artistProfessional fraud perpetrator
charlatan · impostor · grifter · hustler · schemer · racketeer · loan shark · counterfeiter
Confinement for offenders
- jailDetention facility
- inmateConfined facility resident
- convictJailed offender after trial
- sentenceComplete thought, grammatically
parole · probation · penitentiary · detention · correctional · warden · cellblock · solitary confinement
Criminal organization using intimidation
- syndicateCombined group pursuing shared interest
- mobDisorderly, aggressive crowd
- cartelPrice-fixing coalition
- gangOrganized criminal group
kingpin · godfather · underboss · capo · hitman · enforcer · smuggler · fence
Forbidden by statute
- illicitProhibited by law
- unlawfulForbidden by statute
- prohibitedOfficially not permitted
- contrabandProhibited trade goods
unauthorized · forbidden · fugitive · wanted · at large · on the run · getaway · manhunt
Seize by law
- indictmentFormal charge from jury
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- trialJudicial examination of claims
- verdictOfficial court decision
conviction · acquittal · sentencing · testimony · evidence · witness · plea bargain · arraignment
Deliberate unlawful killing
- manslaughterUnlawful killing without forethought
- arsonCriminal deliberate burning
- kidnappingUnlawful seizure of person
- robberyTheft through intimidation
burglary · assault · fraud · embezzlement · extortion · bribery · perjury · forgery
perpetrator
One who commits wrongdoing
- culpritPerson found guilty
- felonSerious crime perpetrator
- delinquentFailing in duty
malefactor · wrongdoer · lawbreaker · transgressor · violator · convict · recidivist · suspect · defendant · accused
scoundrel
Dishonest, unscrupulous person
con artist · charlatan · impostor · grifter · hustler · schemer · racketeer · loan shark · counterfeiter · forger
prison
Confinement for offenders
sentence · parole · probation · penitentiary · detention · correctional · warden · cellblock · solitary confinement · chain gang
mafia
Criminal organization using intimidation
- syndicateCombined group pursuing shared interest
- mobDisorderly, aggressive crowd
- cartelPrice-fixing coalition
gang · kingpin · godfather · underboss · capo · hitman · enforcer · smuggler · fence · black market
illegal
Forbidden by statute
- illicitProhibited by law
- unlawfulForbidden by statute
- prohibitedOfficially not permitted
contraband · unauthorized · forbidden · fugitive · wanted · at large · on the run · getaway · manhunt · APB
arrest
Seize by law
- indictmentFormal charge from jury
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- trialJudicial examination of claims
verdict · conviction · acquittal · sentencing · testimony · evidence · witness · plea bargain · arraignment · bail
murder
Deliberate unlawful killing
- manslaughterUnlawful killing without forethought
- arsonCriminal deliberate burning
- kidnappingUnlawful seizure of person
robbery · burglary · assault · fraud · embezzlement · extortion · bribery · perjury · forgery · conspiracy
- mystery fictionwhodunit, whodunnit, sleuth, murder mystery, detective novel
- -al adjectivescultural, emotional, environmental, federal, financial
- dangersdanger, peril, hazard, risk, menace
- Outlawsoutlaw, bandit, desperado, highwayman, robber
- roguesrogue, rogues, scoundrel, scoundrels, rascal
- rule breakersrulebreaker, transgressor, violator, offender, lawbreaker
- criminal recordLog of past convictions
- criminal enterpriseOrganized illegal business venture
- criminal chargesFormal accusations of lawbreaking
- Smooth CriminalPolished, unruffled wrongdoer
- criminal justiceState apparatus for prosecuting offenders
- criminal profilingInferring suspect characteristics behaviorally
criminals, criminality, incriminate, criminally, incrimination, recrimination, incriminating, decriminalize, criminalize