Find Synonyms

criminal Synonyms

Another word for criminal

Choosing another word for criminal depends on context, so the 23 synonyms and similar words below are separated across 4 exact definitions and ranked by match strength.
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• noun (Context 1)

A person who has committed a crime or been legally convicted of a punishable offense.

Usage Example

"The authorities worked across international borders to apprehend the fugitive offender."

Strongest
offender
lawbreaker
felon
Strong
culprit
perpetrator
delinquent
malefactor
outlaw
crook
convict

• adjective (Context 2)

Relating to, involving, or constituting a punishable offense against the law.

Usage Example

"The prosecutor presented compelling evidence of unlawful activity during the trial."

Strongest
unlawful
illegal
illicit
felonious
Strong
delinquent
culpable

• adjective (Context 3)

Relating to the administration of penal law or the prosecution of public offenses, as opposed to civil law.

Usage Example

"She specialized in penal law before being appointed to the federal bench."

Strongest
penal
Strong
forensic

• adjective (Context 4)

Deplorable, shockingly wasteful, or morally reprehensible (used informally for emphasis).

Usage Example

"It is positively deplorable to let so much fresh produce go to waste."

Strongest
deplorable
shameful
Strong
scandalous
outrageous
reprehensible
disgraceful

Opposites of criminal

The opposite of criminal shifts depending on context. Common opposites include:

lawful
civil
legal
commendable
legitimate
praiseworthy
law-abiding
admirable
See all opposites of criminal

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Synonyms for Criminal. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/synonyms/criminal
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