crime

noun

ˈkrīm How to pronounce crime (audio)
Definition of crimenext
1
as in criminality
activities that are in violation of the laws of the state a promise by the president to step up the war against crime

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in shame
a regrettable or blameworthy act it's a crime to waste food, so give the rest of the pizza to me

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in offence
a breaking of a moral or legal code anyone who commits a crime should expect to be punished for it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun crime contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of crime are offense, scandal, sin, and vice. While all these words mean "a transgression of law," crime implies a serious offense punishable by the law of the state.

the crime of murder

When would offense be a good substitute for crime?

The words offense and crime are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, offense applies to the infraction of any law, rule, or code.

at that school no offense went unpunished

When can scandal be used instead of crime?

The meanings of scandal and crime largely overlap; however, scandal applies to an offense that outrages the public conscience.

a career ruined by a sex scandal

When is sin a more appropriate choice than crime?

The synonyms sin and crime are sometimes interchangeable, but sin implies an offense against moral or religious law.

the sin of blasphemy

When could vice be used to replace crime?

In some situations, the words vice and crime are roughly equivalent. However, vice applies to a habit or practice that degrades or corrupts.

regarded gambling as a vice

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of crime Australia, Canada, Ireland, and Switzerland rounded out the top five in that report which analyzed crime rates, crowding levels, and peace/safety indexes. —Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2025 Pattinson will also soon star in Lynne Ramsay's Die, My Love alongside Jennifer Lawrence and Nick Nolte, and he's slated to headline Lance Oppenheim's crime thriller Primetime with Phoebe Bridgers. —Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 9 Apr. 2025 Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. are back at the scene of the crime. —Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 1 Apr. 2025 In addition to editing content, Alex also covers breaking news, writing about crime and severe weather as well as everything from multistate lottery jackpots to the July Fourth hot dog eating contest. —Alex Sundby, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for crime
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crime
  1. criminality
  2. shame
  3. pity
  4. violation
  5. sin
  6. felony
Noun
  • Part of the problem is that, in the Brazilian legislature, corruption and criminality are so endemic as to be inextricable from the job of governance.
    — Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Since 2014, Ukraine has been subjected to a level of violence and criminality that reflects Russia’s utter contempt for the laws of armed conflict.
    — The Editors, National Review, 20 Feb. 2025
Definition of criminality
Noun
  • People give me hate and shame about that all the time.
    — Anna Moeslein, Glamour, 15 Apr. 2025
  • But that’s an allegory for his trauma, PTSD, guilt and shame.
    — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of shame
Noun
  • The film doesn’t ask for sympathy for this family or present them as objects of pity.
    — Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 29 Mar. 2025
  • But Luca’s whole vibe doesn’t exactly invite empathy, and Fisk takes no pity on the guy.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2025
Definition of pity
Noun
  • The post was an apparent violation of Major League Baseball’s social media policy, which prohibits the use of electronic devices during games.
    — Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Civil rights advocates and others have described Trump’s moves as alarming violations of civil rights, including the right to due process.
    — Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of violation
Noun
  • Landing in the bottom are Henry (for the sin of a spongy scallion pancake), Paula (for texture issues), and Bailey (for the aforementioned Pile of Stuff).
    — Caroline Framke, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2025
  • But the occasional poach is perhaps no great sin, more akin to driving over the speed limit than, say, starting a forest fire.
    — Mark Sundeen, Outside Online, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of sin
Noun
  • Fortier pleads guilty to four felony counts under a deal that requires him to be a government witness.
    — Todd Pendleton, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Villatoro Santos remains in pretrial jail and faces a federal felony gun possession charge in Virginia.
    — Scott MacFarlane, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of felony

Browse Nearby Words

cries up
crime
crimes
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Crime.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crime. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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