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Synonyms for

Criminal

Noun / ˈkrɪmʌnʌl / Another word for criminal — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

A person who has committed a crime or is guilty of a criminal offense.

Synonyms & similar words

reprehensible vicious outlaw crook felonious condemnable malefactor felon deplorable lawbreaker offender culprit delinquent wrongdoer outlaw thief bandit robber mugger burglar thug gangster mobster felon convict prisoner jailbird perpetrator malefactor

Synonyms by register

Formal

offender perpetrator felon delinquent

Informal

crook bad guy thug scoundrel

Literary

miscreant villain rogue

Antonyms

law-abiding innocent virtuous ethical upright decent moral

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.

Compare "criminal" with another word →

Example sentences

  1. The criminal was sentenced to ten years in prison.
  2. The police caught the criminal after a high-speed chase.
  3. The criminal stole a purse from an old lady.
  4. The criminal tried to rob a bank but was caught by the security guard.
  5. 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

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