1In a manner that is contrary to or forbidden by criminal law.
there was no evidence the firms had acted criminally
Example sentencesExamples
This sort of crime has in the main been committed by people who were not apparently in other respects criminally minded.
If anyone is found to have behaved criminally, they must be prosecuted.
He grew up in the grounds of this institution, surrounded by the criminally insane.
Maybe that's because the distributor is indeed acting criminally or negligently.
The strain between father and daughter is exacerbated when they end up on opposite sides of a lawsuit against a powerful car manufacturer accused of being criminally negligent.
The police behaved criminally - they have to be arrested and charged.
Someone concerned about a partner's behaviour can check if they've acted criminally in the past.
He would surely have kept confidential documents locked in his safe, not in a study shared with someone whom he was criminally defrauding.
Whoever physically commits a crime, either alone or jointly with other persons, is criminally liable.
The likelihood of anyone being held criminally responsible currently seems quite low.
1.1Law In a way that relates to crime as opposed to civil matters.
these offences may be prosecuted criminally under state law
Example sentencesExamples
He is the first local bridge inspector to be criminally charged with attacking a tourist.
He may do something and perhaps he'll be caught and criminally prosecuted.
He was criminally indicted on Friday on charges of misusing hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign donations.
The law states children under 10 years old cannot be criminally prosecuted.
They will seek justice for their client, whether it's done criminally, civilly, or both.
2informal as submodifierTo a shocking degree.
one of his most criminally underappreciated films
Example sentencesExamples
It was criminally ignored at major award shows, and got a very minimal release throughout the country.
It was criminally under-reported upon however.
Although criminally underused, he brings his usual sense of dignity to his role.
In fact, it's probably one of the most criminally underrated and misunderstood films of the 1990s.
It is another criminally underrated film that has finally garnered the attention it deserves.
Were they criminally stupid and arrogant to have chanced upon such a precious jewel and then thrown it away?
It was criminally ignored when it came out, but now look at it.
This LP can be criminally hard to find.
Quite simply, it is one of the most criminally ignored albums of recent history.
Julian pays tribute to a great composer he feels has been criminally neglected.
Definition of criminally in US English:
criminally
adverbˈkrɪmən(ə)liˈkrimən(ə)lē
1In a manner that is contrary to or forbidden by criminal law.
there was no evidence the firms had acted criminally
Example sentencesExamples
He grew up in the grounds of this institution, surrounded by the criminally insane.
Someone concerned about a partner's behaviour can check if they've acted criminally in the past.
Whoever physically commits a crime, either alone or jointly with other persons, is criminally liable.
The police behaved criminally - they have to be arrested and charged.
If anyone is found to have behaved criminally, they must be prosecuted.
He would surely have kept confidential documents locked in his safe, not in a study shared with someone whom he was criminally defrauding.
Maybe that's because the distributor is indeed acting criminally or negligently.
The likelihood of anyone being held criminally responsible currently seems quite low.
The strain between father and daughter is exacerbated when they end up on opposite sides of a lawsuit against a powerful car manufacturer accused of being criminally negligent.
This sort of crime has in the main been committed by people who were not apparently in other respects criminally minded.
1.1Law In a way that relates to crime as opposed to civil matters.
these offenses may be prosecuted criminally under state law
Example sentencesExamples
They will seek justice for their client, whether it's done criminally, civilly, or both.
He is the first local bridge inspector to be criminally charged with attacking a tourist.
He was criminally indicted on Friday on charges of misusing hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign donations.
The law states children under 10 years old cannot be criminally prosecuted.
He may do something and perhaps he'll be caught and criminally prosecuted.
2informal as submodifierTo a shocking degree.
one of his most criminally underappreciated films
Example sentencesExamples
Although criminally underused, he brings his usual sense of dignity to his role.
Julian pays tribute to a great composer he feels has been criminally neglected.
It was criminally ignored at major award shows, and got a very minimal release throughout the country.
This LP can be criminally hard to find.
It was criminally under-reported upon however.
In fact, it's probably one of the most criminally underrated and misunderstood films of the 1990s.
It was criminally ignored when it came out, but now look at it.
Quite simply, it is one of the most criminally ignored albums of recent history.
Were they criminally stupid and arrogant to have chanced upon such a precious jewel and then thrown it away?
It is another criminally underrated film that has finally garnered the attention it deserves.