English Synonyms for Crime and Lawlessness Vocabulary Words – Online Quiz!

abscond (verb) /əbˈskɒnd/
Meaning: It is often used to describe someone who leaves their place of work, residence, or custody without permission or without fulfilling their obligations.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to abscond?
Options: flee; remain; stay; confront
Answer: flee
Synonyms: bolt; decamp; depart; disappear; elope; escape; evade; flee; leave; run; skedaddle; slip
Example: "The thief tried to abscond with the stolen jewels, but the alarm sounded."

assailant (noun) /əˈseɪlənt/
Meaning: An assailant can be anyone who poses a threat to the safety, well-being, or peace of mind of another individual.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to assailant?
Options: attacker; defender; protector; guardian
Answer: attacker
Synonyms: aggressor; antagonist; culprit; foe; offender; opponent; perpetrator; thug; wrongdoer
Example: "The assailant fled the scene before the police arrived."

criminate (verb) /ˈkrɪm əˌneɪt/
Meaning: When someone is criminated, they are charged or implicated as a suspect or participant in an illegal activity.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to criminate?
Options: accuse; absolve; exonerate; clear
Answer: accuse
Synonyms: accuse; allege; blame; charge; denounce; finger; implicate; impute; incriminate; indict; point; slander
Example: "The detective had strong evidence to criminate the suspect."

culprit (noun) /ˈkʌlprɪt/
Meaning: It is often used in the context of criminal investigations to refer to the person who committed the crime.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to culprit?
Options: offender; innocent; victim; bystander
Answer: offender
Synonyms: criminal; crook; felon; lawbreaker; malefactor; miscreant; offender; perpetrator; villain
Example: "The detective was determined to apprehend the real culprit behind the theft."

delinquent (adjective) /dɪˈlɪŋkw(ə)nt/
Meaning: It is commonly used to describe individuals who engage in unlawful or anti-social behavior, such as criminal activities, vandalism, or substance abuse.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to delinquent?
Options: disobedient; compliant; obedient; conforming
Answer: disobedient
Synonyms: anarchic; defiant; disobedient; errant; erring; insubordinate; lawless; neglectful; offending; rebellious; recalcitrant; refractory
Example: "The delinquent behavior of the teenager worried his parents."

depredation (noun) /ˌdɛprɪˈdeɪʃn/
Meaning: It denotes the destructive behavior of animals or humans that involves the indiscriminate looting or destruction of resources, often resulting in harm to the environment, property, or livelihoods of others.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to depredation?
Options: plundering; protection; conservation; preservation
Answer: plundering
Synonyms: despoiling; looting; pillaging; plundering; raiding; ransacking; ravaging; robbing; sacking
Example: "The village was left in ruins after the depredation carried out by marauding bandits."

desperado (noun) /ˌdɛs pəˈrɑ doʊ/
Meaning: It is commonly associated with the American Wild West era and conjures up images of bandits, outlaws, or renegades.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to desperado?
Options: outlaw; law-abider; citizen; conformist
Answer: outlaw
Synonyms: bandit; criminal; delinquent; fugitive; gangster; highwayman; hooligan; outlaw; renegade; robber; ruffian; thug
Example: "The old Western movie showcased a clash between the heroic cowboy and the ruthless desperado."

extort (verb) /ɪkˈstɔrt/
Meaning: When someone extorts, they use intimidation, manipulation, or undue pressure to extract concessions or gain unjust advantages from others.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to extort?
Options: coerce; give; donate; contribute
Answer: coerce
Synonyms: blackmail; coerce; compel; demand; exact; extract; force; intimidate; ransom; squeeze; wrest; wring
Example: "The criminal attempted to extort money from the business owner by threatening to vandalize the property."

fugitive (noun) /ˈfjuːdʒɪtɪv/
Meaning: It can also refer to someone who is avoiding capture or pursuit, such as a criminal on the run, or someone who is evading military conscription.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to fugitive?
Options: runaway; resident; stay-at-home; settler
Answer: runaway
Synonyms: criminal; deportee; deserter; escapee; evacuee; exile; outcast; outlaw; pariah; wanted
Example: "The fugitive slipped through the narrow alley, desperate to evade capture."

gangster (noun) /ˈgæŋ stər/
Meaning: Often characterized by their involvement in illegal activities such as extortion, drug trafficking, robbery, and murder, gangsters operate outside the boundaries of the law.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to gangster?
Options: criminal; law-abider; officer; lawman
Answer: criminal
Synonyms: criminal; crook; goon; henchman; hoodlum; mafioso; mobster; outlaw; racketeer; thug
Example: "The gangster walked into the dimly lit room, exuding an aura of menace."

genocide (noun) /ˈdʒɛnəsʌɪd/
Meaning: The term was coined in 1944 by Raphael Lemkin, a Polish-Jewish legal scholar, to describe the systematic extermination of the Jews by the Nazis during World War II.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to genocide?
Options: extermination; protection; preservation; nurturing
Answer: extermination
Synonyms: annihilation; cleansing; decimation; elimination; eradication; ethnic; extermination; holocaust; killing; massacre; murder; pogrom
Example: "The international community condemned the genocide in the war-torn region."

hooch (noun) /hutʃ/
Meaning: It is often associated with the production and consumption of alcohol that is produced outside of legal channels, such as homemade spirits or moonshine.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to hooch?
Options: moonshine; quality liquor; premium spirits; fine wine
Answer: moonshine
Synonyms: bootleg; brew; firewater; grog; homebrew; homemade; illicit; liquor; moonshine; rotgut; swill
Example: "The authorities raided an underground operation producing illegal hooch."

illicit (adjective) /ɪˈlɪsɪt/
Meaning: When something is described as "illicit," it suggests a sense of wrongdoing or impropriety, indicating that it falls outside the boundaries of what is legally or morally acceptable.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to illicit?
Options: illegal; legal; lawful; legitimate
Answer: illegal
Synonyms: banned; clandestine; contraband; criminal; felonious; forbidden; illegal; illegitimate; prohibited; unauthorized; unlawful; wrongful
Example: "The police raided the warehouse and uncovered an illicit drug operation."

informant (noun) /ɪnˈfɔːm(ə)nt/
Meaning: Informants can be motivated by various factors such as money, leniency, or revenge.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to informant?
Options: whistleblower; concealer; withholder; secret-keeper
Answer: whistleblower
Synonyms: infiltrator; insider; mole; plant; rat; snitch; source; spy; tattletale; tipster
Example: "The detective relied on a confidential informant to gather information about the criminal organization."

intoxicated (adjective) /ɪnˈtɒksɪkeɪtɪd/
Meaning: It refers to the effects that alcohol or drugs have on the body and mind, causing changes in behavior, perception, and cognitive function.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to intoxicated?
Options: drunk; sober; clear-headed; lucid
Answer: drunk
Synonyms: drunk; hammered; high; inebriated; legless; mullered; plastered; sozzled; stoned; tipsy
Example: "The intoxicated man stumbled out of the bar, slurring his words."

kleptomania (noun) /ˌklɛptə(ʊ)ˈmeɪnɪə/
Meaning: It is a form of impulse control disorder that is classified as an addictive behavior.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to kleptomania?
Options: compulsion; honesty; integrity; self-control
Answer: compulsion
Synonyms: burglary; larceny; looting; pilferage; pilfering; plundering; purloining; shoplifting; stealing; swiping; theft; thievery
Example: "Kleptomania is a disorder characterized by the recurrent urge to steal."

lawlessness (noun) /ˈlɔ lɪs nɪs/
Meaning: It signifies a disregard or defiance of established legal frameworks and social norms, resulting in disorder, chaos, or anarchy.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to lawlessness?
Options: anarchy; orderliness; conformity; legality
Answer: anarchy
Synonyms: anarchy; chaos; criminality; defiance; disorder; insubordination; mayhem; rebellion; turmoil; unrest
Example: "The city experienced a period of lawlessness after the collapse of its government."

litigious (adjective) /lɪˈtɪdʒəs/
Meaning: The term comes from the Latin word "litigiosus" which means "fond of lawsuits" or "contentious.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to litigious?
Options: contentious; uncontentious; agreeable; cooperative
Answer: contentious
Synonyms: argumentative; belligerent; combative; confrontational; contentious; disputatious; feisty; litigable; pugnacious; quarrelsome; wrangling
Example: "He was wary of his litigious neighbor who had a penchant for filing unnecessary lawsuits."

loot (noun) /lut/
Meaning: Loot can include a wide range of objects, such as jewelry, artifacts, cash, artwork, or any other valuable possessions.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to loot?
Options: plunder; donation; gift; offering
Answer: plunder
Synonyms: booty; gains; haul; pilfered; plunder; prey; riches; spoils; swag; takings; treasure
Example: "The thieves made off with a substantial amount of loot from the bank heist."

lynch (verb) /lɪnʧ/
Meaning: The term is derived from the name of a judge, William Lynch, who was known to have used this method of punishment in the 18th century.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to lynch?
Options: execute; absolve; release; pardon
Answer: execute
Synonyms: assassinate; dispatch; eliminate; execute; exterminate; hang; kill; murder; slaughter
Example: "The mob decided to lynch the accused criminal without a fair trial."

mafia (noun) /ˈmɑ fi ə/
Meaning: Originating in Italy, the Mafia is characterized by a hierarchical structure with various families or clans, each with its own leaders and members.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to mafia?
Options: syndicate; law; order; police
Answer: syndicate
Synonyms: Camorra; cartel; crew; family; gang; mob; organization; racket; syndicate; Triad; Yakuza
Example: "The police have been conducting extensive investigations into the activities of the local mafia."

mafioso (noun) /ˌmɑ fiˈoʊ soʊ/
Meaning: The term is often used to describe a person who is involved in the activities of the Mafia and adheres to its code of conduct.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to mafioso?
Options: gangster; law-abider; policeman; officer
Answer: gangster
Synonyms: boss; capo; criminal; don; enforcer; gangster; goon; hoodlum; mobster; racketeer; thug; wiseguy
Example: "The cunning mafioso orchestrated a complex web of criminal enterprises, spanning continents."

malefactor (noun) /ˈmæləˌfæktər/
Meaning: A malefactor is someone who has broken the law or acted against accepted moral or ethical standards, and as such, they may face legal consequences or social censure for their actions.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to malefactor?
Options: wrongdoer; law-abider; innocent; upholder
Answer: wrongdoer
Synonyms: convict; criminal; culprit; lawbreaker; offender; perpetrator; transgressor; villain; wrongdoer
Example: "The judge sentenced the malefactor to 10 years in prison for his crimes."

miscreant (noun) /ˈmɪskrɪənt/
Meaning: The term is often used to describe someone who is seen as immoral, wicked, or malevolent, and who shows no remorse for their actions.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to miscreant?
Options: lawbreaker; law-abider; moralist; virtuous
Answer: lawbreaker
Synonyms: criminal; degenerate; malefactor; offender; rascal; reprobate; rogue; scoundrel; villain
Example: "The miscreant fled before the police could apprehend him."

misdemeanour (noun) /mɪsdɪˈmiːnə/
Meaning: Misdemeanors are usually punishable by fines, short-term imprisonment, or both.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to misdemeanour?
Options: minor offense; felony; serious crime; lawfulness
Answer: minor
Synonyms: breach; crime; delinquency; fault; infraction; infringement; misbehavior; misconduct; misdeed; offense; peccadillo; transgression
Example: "Jay's misdemeanor resulted in a fine and community service."

notorious (adjective) /nə(ʊ)ˈtɔːrɪəs/
Meaning: The term "notorious" is used to describe someone or something that is A person who is notorious may have a reputation for being dangerous, criminal, or unethical.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to notorious?
Options: infamous; unknown; obscure; reputable
Answer: infamous
Synonyms: blatant; celebrated; discreditable; dishonorable; disreputable; ignominious; infamous; renowned; shady
Example: "The bank robber became notorious for his daring heists."

penitentiary (noun) /ˌpɛn ɪˈtɛn ʃə ri/
Meaning: A penitentiary is designed to house and rehabilitate individuals who have been sentenced to long-term imprisonment as a form of punishment for their offenses.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to penitentiary?
Options: prison; community; freedom; liberty
Answer: prison
Synonyms: brig; clink; confinement; jail; lockup; prison; reformatory; slammer
Example: "The penitentiary was located in a remote area, far from residential neighborhoods."

perpetrator (noun) /ˈpəːpətreɪtə/
Meaning: The term 'perpetrator' is commonly used in the context of law enforcement, criminal justice, and investigations to identify and describe those who have carried out illegal or unethical activities.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to perpetrator?
Options: criminal; victim; bystander; innocent
Answer: criminal
Synonyms: assailant; crook; culprit; felon; malefactor; miscreant; offender; villain; wrongdoer
Example: "The perpetrator of the crime was caught red-handed by the police."

pilfer (verb) /ˈpɪl fər/
Meaning: It involves the unauthorized and stealthy taking of items that are typically of lesser value or importance.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to pilfer?
Options: steal; return; give; contribute
Answer: steal
Synonyms: embezzle; filch; lift; pinch; plunder; purloin; rob; snatch; snitch; steal; swipe; thieve
Example: "He was caught trying to pilfer some candy from the store."

pillage (noun) /ˈpɪlɪdʒ/
Meaning: It means taking goods or property by force or by stealing during a raid or an invasion.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to pillage?
Options: loot; restore; return; rebuild
Answer: loot
Synonyms: loot; ransack; plunder; raid; sack; despoil; expropriate; rob; steal; confiscate; strip; ravage
Example: "The ruthless pillage of the village left its residents devastated, with little left to call their own."

racketeer (noun) /rakɪˈtɪə/
Meaning: The term "racket" refers to a fraudulent or illegal business, and a racketeer is someone who participates in such a business.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to racketeer?
Options: criminal; law-abider; honest; ethical
Answer: criminal
Synonyms: blackmailer; bootlegger; criminal; extortionist; fraudster; gangster; hoodlum; Mafioso; mobster; outlaw; shark; smuggler
Example: "The notorious racketeer was finally apprehended by law enforcement."

ransack (verb) /ˈransak/
Meaning: The term can be used both in a literal sense, such as searching through a room or a house, as well as in a figurative sense, such as combing through documents or records.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to ransack?
Options: plunder; restore; arrange; tidy
Answer: plunder
Synonyms: despoil; forage; loot; pillage; plunder; raid; rake; ravage; rifle; rummage; sack; scour
Example: "The burglars ransack the house, searching for valuables."

ransom (noun) /ˈrans(ə)m/
Meaning: It is a payment made to a kidnapper, abductor or other captor in exchange for the safe release of a kidnapped person.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to ransom?
Options: payoff; free; release; liberate
Answer: payoff
Synonyms: bribe; compensation; deliverance; liberation; payoff; price; redemption; release; rescue
Example: "The kidnappers demanded a hefty ransom for the safe return of the businessman."

regicide (noun) /ˈrɛdʒɪsʌɪd/
Meaning: Historically, 'regicide' has been a significant and dramatic event that can have profound repercussions on a nation's political landscape and stability.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to regicide?
Options: assassination; protection; guardianship; defense
Answer: assassination
Synonyms: assassination; bloodshed; death; execution; homicide; killing; massacre; murder; slaughter; slaying
Example: "The act of regicide, the killing of a monarch, was considered a heinous crime."

rife (adjective) /raɪf/
Meaning: When something is described as rife, it suggests that it is occurring or present to an excessive or alarming degree, and it can often imply a sense of uncontrolled proliferation.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to rife?
Options: widespread; scarce; rare; uncommon
Answer: widespread
Synonyms: awash; bursting; fraught; jammed; packed; raging; rampant; seething; swarming; teeming
Example: "Corruption was rife in the political landscape, eroding trust in government."

scandal (noun) /ˈskandl/
Meaning: It's an event or behavior that is perceived as shocking or outrageous, and that brings an individual, organization, or government into disrepute.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to scandal?
Options: disgrace; honor; respectability; integrity
Answer: disgrace
Synonyms: defamation; disgrace; dishonor; embarrassment; misconduct; offence; stain; wrongdoing
Example: "The political scandal dominated headlines for weeks, shaking the government."

tamper (verb) /ˈtampə/
Meaning: This can involve altering, adjusting, or changing the properties, contents, or functionality of an object, system, or process.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to tamper?
Options: interfere; preserve; respect; maintain
Answer: interfere
Synonyms: adjust; alter; change; corrupt; damage; distort; doctor; fiddle; meddle; sabotage; tinker
Example: "The parent warned their child not to tamper with the electrical outlets."

thug (noun) /θʌg/
Meaning: A thug is typically associated with aggressive and unlawful actions, displaying a disregard for the well-being and rights of others.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to thug?
Options: criminal; law-abider; peacekeeper; officer
Answer: criminal
Synonyms: brute; bully; criminal; enforcer; gangster; goon; hoodlum; hooligan; mobster; ruffian; tough; villain
Example: "The gang of thugs terrorized the neighborhood, instilling fear in the residents."

treason (noun) /ˈtriːz(ə)n/
Meaning: This typically includes acts such as giving aid or information to a foreign government, or actively working to overthrow the government through force or other means.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to treason?
Options: betrayal; loyalty; allegiance; faithfulness
Answer: betrayal
Synonyms: backstabbing; deceit; deception; disloyalty; duplicity; faithlessness; mutiny; sedition; treachery
Example: "Committing treason is a grave offense punishable by severe penalties."

vandalize (verb) /ˈvæn dlˌaɪz/
Meaning: It involves defacing, defiling, or otherwise causing harm to public or private possessions, such as buildings, vehicles, monuments, or other physical structures.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to vandalize?
Options: deface; mend; repair; restore
Answer: deface
Synonyms: damage; deface; desecrate; destroy; devastate; impair; mar; mutilate; ruin; sabotage; spoil; wreck
Example: "Kids, don't vandalize the park; we all use and enjoy this public space together."

vigilante (noun) /ˌvɪdʒ əˈlæn ti/
Meaning: This term is often used to describe individuals or groups who engage in activities such as apprehending suspected criminals, enforcing their own version of the law, or punishing those who they believe have committed crimes.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to vigilante?
Options: outlaw; lawman; officer; guardian
Answer: outlaw
Synonyms: avenger; crusader; defender; enforcer; guardian; hero; protector; warrior; watchman
Example: "The town was terrorized by a masked vigilante seeking to enforce his own brand of justice."