Antonyms of verb decriminalize

1 sense of decriminalize

Sense 1
legalize, legalise, decriminalize, decriminalise, legitimize, legitimise, legitimate, legitimatize, legitimatise -- (make legal; "Marijuana should be legalized")
       Antonym of criminalize (Sense 2)
      => outlaw, criminalize, criminalise, illegalize, illegalise -- (declare illegal; outlaw; "Marijuana is criminalized in the U.S.")

Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb decriminalize

1 sense of decriminalize

Sense 1
legalize, legalise, decriminalize, decriminalise, legitimize, legitimise, legitimate, legitimatize, legitimatise -- (make legal; "Marijuana should be legalized")
       => permit, allow, let, countenance -- (consent to, give permission; "She permitted her son to visit her estranged husband"; "I won't let the police search her basement"; "I cannot allow you to see your exam")

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