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decriminalize

[dee-krim-uh-nl-ahyz] / diˈkrɪm ə nlˌaɪz /


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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In November, Paxton also sued Dallas after its residents overwhelmingly voted to decriminalize possession.

From Slate May 28, 2025

In Latin America, Colombia previously had been the only country to decriminalize euthanasia, in which doctors used drugs to kill terminally ill patients.

From Seattle Times Feb. 7, 2024

Then in 2021, a movement to decriminalize cruising began to take root in National City.

From Los Angeles Times Nov. 14, 2023

“Did you lead the charge to decriminalize public urination in Washington, D.C.?”

From Washington Post Mar. 31, 2023

In the memo, Mr. Bragg said the policies aimed to decriminalize poverty and mental illness, as well as balance fairness and public safety.

From Washington Times Mar. 20, 2023

Additionally, the bill effectively decriminalizes street vending without a license.

From Washington Times Apr. 5, 2023

Legal jaywalking: California’s “Freedom to Walk” act, which decriminalizes jaywalking, will go into effect on Jan 1.

From New York Times Oct. 27, 2022

Pedestrians take note: A new law decriminalizes safe jaywalking in California.

From Los Angeles Times Oct. 1, 2022

Last week, Brown signed a bill authored by Lara into law that decriminalizes sidewalk vending, a business popular with many immigrants.

From Fox News Sep. 28, 2018

Cuba, which decriminalizes abortions in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy, is the only country in Latin America where legal abortion is common.

From Seattle Times Sep. 25, 2012

It was only a few weeks before his death in August 1967 that homosexuality was partially decriminalized in England.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 12, 2026

Elsewhere in Latin America, courts in Colombia and Ecuador have decriminalized euthanasia without passing laws to legalize the practice, while Cuba allows for terminal patients to refuse being kept alive artificially.

From Barron's Oct. 16, 2025

Homosexual acts between adult men were decriminalized in New South Wales in 1984, making it the fifth state to do so.

From Seattle Times Jun. 5, 2024

China has long had a conservative culture that stigmatizes homosexuality, though it was decriminalized in 1997.

From Los Angeles Times May 30, 2024

Indian cinema has seen a wave of queer-themed commercial movies since gay sex was decriminalized in a Supreme Court decision in 2018.

From New York Times Mar. 8, 2024

In New York, two opposing bills—one decriminalizing prostitution, which was supported by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani when he was still an assemblymember, and the other enacting the Nordic model—are still under consideration.

From The Wall Street Journal May 21, 2026

Rodriguez stabilized the situation by introducing greater fiscal discipline, halting the printing of money, relaxing exchange controls and decriminalizing the use of the dollar, which has become Venezuela's de facto currency.

From Barron's Mar. 6, 2026

Dr. Anna Lembke, a professor at Stanford who raised concerns years ago over the rise in opioid prescriptions, shares those concerns about decriminalizing psychedelics.

From Los Angeles Times Oct. 7, 2023

That ruling set off a slow state-by-state process of decriminalizing it.

From Seattle Times Sep. 6, 2023

Part of the jump in fare evasion stems from a District of Columbia law decriminalizing fare evasion that took effect on May 3, 2019.

From Washington Times Apr. 28, 2023




Vocabulary lists containing decriminalize


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