The Opposite(Antonym) of “criminal”
The antonyms of criminal are law-abiding and innocent. The antonyms law-abiding and innocent convey a positive or lawful connotation. It implies a person who follows the law and does not engage in illegal activities.
Explore all Antonyms of “criminal”
- innocent
- law-abiding
Definitions and Examples of law-abiding, innocent
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
law-abiding
Obeying and respecting the law; not breaking any laws.
Example
He was a law-abiding citizen who paid his taxes on time and never got into trouble with the authorities.
Not guilty of a crime or wrongdoing; free from blame or fault.
Example
The suspect claimed to be innocent of the charges against him and demanded a fair trial.
Key Differences: law-abiding vs innocent
- 1Law-abiding describes a person who follows the law and respects it.
- 2Innocent describes a person who is not guilty of a crime or wrongdoing.
Effective Usage of law-abiding, innocent
- 1Legal Context: Use law-abiding and innocent in legal contexts to describe people's behavior and status.
- 2Moral Context: Use these antonyms to discuss ethical and moral issues related to crime and justice.
- 3Daily Conversation: Incorporate these words in daily conversations to express opinions and ideas about law and order.
Remember this!
The antonyms have distinct nuances: Law-abiding describes a person who follows the law, while innocent describes a person who is not guilty of a crime. Use these words in legal and moral contexts to describe people's behavior and status, and in daily conversations to express opinions and ideas about law and order.