1. making something illegal or treating someone as a criminal
Usage: present participle of 'criminalise' (British spelling); American spelling is 'criminalizing'

Examples

• The government is criminalising the possession of certain drugs.
• Many activists argue that criminalising homelessness does not solve the underlying problem.
• The new law is criminalising behaviour that was previously tolerated.
• Critics worry about criminalising people for minor offences.
• The policy of criminalising immigration has sparked widespread debate.
• By criminalising the activity, lawmakers hope to reduce its prevalence.