Synonyms for
Criminal
Definition
A person who has committed a crime or is guilty of a criminal offense.
Synonyms & similar words
Synonyms by register
Antonyms
Common collocations
- criminal record
- criminal investigation
- criminal act
- criminal charges
- criminal justice
- organized crime
- criminal mastermind
Word family
noun criminality
adjective criminal
Usage note
While 'criminal' can refer to anyone who has committed a crime, it often implies a more serious or habitual offender. It is generally a neutral term in legal contexts but can carry negative connotations in everyday speech.
Example sentences
- The criminal was sentenced to ten years in prison.
- The police caught the criminal after a high-speed chase.
- The criminal stole a purse from an old lady.
- The criminal tried to rob a bank but was caught by the security guard.
- The criminal confessed to the crime and was remorseful.
Quotes
A criminal is a person with predatory instincts who has not sufficient capital to form a corporation. - Howard Scott
The criminal is the creative artist; the detective only the critic. - G.K. Chesterton
A criminal always returns to the scene of the crime. - Jean-Pierre Melville