Criminalization and Decriminalisation

Opposite meaning words

Criminalization noun - Legislation that makes something illegal.

Usage example: the criminalization of marijuana

Show all Definitions

Decriminalisation is an antonym for criminalization in decriminalization topic.

Decriminalisation noun - Legislation that makes something legal that was formerly illegal.

Show all Definitions

Cite this Source

Decriminalisation and Criminalization. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 14, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/criminalization/decriminalisation

Criminalization & Decriminalisation. N.p., 2016. Web. 14 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/criminalization/decriminalisation>.

Decriminalisation or Criminalization. 2016. Accessed August 14, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/criminalization/decriminalisation.

Google Ngram Viewer shows how "criminalization" and "decriminalisation" have occurred on timeline