criminalize
Ban by law
To criminalize something is to make it illegal—to declare by law that an action constitutes a crime: The state criminalized possession of certain drugs.
The term often appears in debates about whether prohibiting something is wise or just: Should we criminalize homelessness?
The opposite is decriminalize.
Authoritative legal ban
- statuteEnacted written rule
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
- enactPass into law
- codifyOrganize into formal rules
outlaw · ban · penalize · sanction · decree · ordinance · law · amendment
Compel obedience to
- complianceAdhering to requirements
- penaltyPunishment for wrongdoing
- fineAcceptable in quality
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
oversight · control · restriction · licensing · inspection · monitoring · sanction · violation
Mark of dishonor
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- demonizePortray as utterly evil
- vilifyAttack someone's reputation
- condemnDeclare wrong or guilty
taboo · vice · sin · wrongdoing · deviance · transgression · misconduct · immorality
Adopted principle of action
- reformImprove by correcting faults
- activismDirect effort for reform
- advocacyPleading for a cause
- lobbyingAdvocating to decision-makers
campaign · debate · controversy · rights · justice · inequality · overreach · oppression
prohibition
Authoritative legal ban
- statuteEnacted written rule
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
- enactPass into law
codify · outlaw · ban · penalize · sanction · decree · ordinance · law · amendment · enforcement
enforce
Compel obedience to
- complianceAdhering to requirements
- penaltyPunishment for wrongdoing
- fineAcceptable in quality
prosecution · oversight · control · restriction · licensing · inspection · monitoring · sanction · violation · infraction
stigma
Mark of dishonor
condemn · taboo · vice · sin · wrongdoing · deviance · transgression · misconduct · immorality · scapegoat
policy
Adopted principle of action
lobbying · campaign · debate · controversy · rights · justice · inequality · overreach · oppression · dissent
criminalizedecriminalize
Abolish penalties for
legalize · decriminalise · legalise · permit · allow
criminality, decriminalize, criminalized, criminalization, criminalise, criminalizing, criminalizes, criminalities, criminalised