Baffled by Sherlock Holmes' cryptic remarks, Watson wondered whether Holmes was intentionally concealing his thoughts about the crime.
Source: tatoeba (2002)
Crime
/kɹaɪm/
Synonyms for "crime" (126 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (26)
Noun(11 words)
criminal offenceact lawlesslyadulteriesadulteryassaultbriberycommittingcriminal actcriminal offensecriminalitydelinquency
atrocitybreachbreakcapercrime against humanitycriminal tendencycriminalitycriminosisdeadly sindelictdelinquencydereliction
Adjective(3 words)
criminal activitycriminal illegalitycriminal statute violation
Strong matches (37)
Noun(11 words)
disorderly conductendangeringforgeriesfoulhuman conductillegal actindecencyinfractionkidnappinglaw-breakingloitering
enormityerrorevilevil coursesevildoingfailurefaultfeloniousnessfelonyfoul playgenocideguiltguilty actheavy sinillegalityimproprietyindiscretioninexpiable sininfringementiniquity
Show 5 more words
Adjective(1 words)
illegal activity
Related words (63)
malefactionmalfeasancemalpracticemalummalversationminor wrongmisconductmisdeedmisdemeanormisdoingmisfeasancemisprisionmisprision of treasonmortal sinnonfeasanceoffenceoffenseomissionoutragepeccadillo
Show 22 more words
peccancypitypositive misprisionsacrilegesinsin of commissionsin of omissionsinful actslipthou scarlet sintorttransgressiontrespasstripunutterable sinvenial sinviceviciousnessviolationwrongwrong conductwrongdoing
Noun(19 words)
malefactionmisdeedsmisdemeanorsmisdoingsmurdersobstruction of justiceoffenceoffenseoffense definitionperpetrationpublic wrongsocial problemthieveryunlawunlawfulnessvandalismviolationwrongdoingwrongs
Verb(1 words)
Adjective(1 words)
violent act
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: criminal offence, act lawlessly, adulteries, adultery, assault.
- Sentence evidence is available for crime, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wiktionary, wordnet, derived_reverse, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "crime".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "crime"
Keep "crime" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "crime" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "crime", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "crime" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
7 entriesMore specific
9 entriesCollocations
6 entriescrime ratecrime sceneorganized crimepetty crimeserious crimewhite collar crime
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
4 entriesSample sentences
20 total sentences available.
Even though he had served his time in prison, the murderer was never quite condoned by the public for his crime.
Source: tatoeba (2014)
So what if I am gay? Is it a crime?
Source: tatoeba (2107)
The director wanted the local Asahi reporter to go to the scene of the crime.
Source: tatoeba (18869)
Showing 4 of 20 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "crime"?
Closest matches include criminal offence, act lawlessly, adulteries, adultery, assault.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "crime"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.