Criminalize is a verb that means to make something a criminal offense, punishable by law. Similar words for criminalize include outlaw, prohibit, ban, forbid, restrain, censure, and denounce. Outlaw means to make something illegal or prohibited by law. Prohibit means to formally forbid or ban something. Ban is a more informal way of prohibiting something. Forbid means to order someone not to do something or to make something illegal. Restrain means to limit or prevent someone from doing something, often through legal measures. Censure means to condemn something as morally wrong or disapproved of. Denounce means to publicly condemn or criticize something as harmful or wrong.