Criminalizing is an act of making an action or behavior illegal or punishable by law. This can be achieved by various means such as enacting laws, regulations, or policies. Synonyms for the word criminalizing include outlawing, prohibiting, proscribing, forbidding, and penalizing. These terms are often used interchangeably to denote the same thing, which is to make an activity or behavior that was previously legal, illegal. Criminalizing aims to deter people from engaging in harmful or negative actions. It is an essential tool for maintaining law and order in the society, protecting public safety, and promoting social justice.