pattern

Advanced Vocabulary for TOEFL - Crime and Punishment

Here you will learn some English words about crime and punishment, such as "bribe", "abuse", "slander", etc. that are needed for the TOEFL exam.

Review

Flashcards

Forms

Spelling

Quiz

Start learning
Advanced Words Needed for TOEFL
to assault

to violently attack someone

Ex: Authorities worked to create awareness about the consequences of assaulting healthcare workers during the pandemic .
Close
Sign in
to bribe
to bribe
[Verb]

to persuade someone to do something, often illegal, by giving them an amount of money or something of value

Ex: The whistleblower came forward with information about a scheme to bribe public officials for construction permits .
Close
Sign in
to vandalize

to intentionally damage something, particularly public property

Ex: The police arrested individuals for vandalizing street signs and traffic signals .
Close
Sign in
to launder

to make some alterations in order to make something that has been obtained illegally, especially money and currency appear legal or acceptable

Ex: By the time the authorities arrived , they had already laundered the money .
Close
Sign in
to appropriate

to take something for one's own use, especially illegally or without the owner's permission

Ex: The artist was accused of appropriating cultural symbols without understanding their significance .
Close
Sign in
contraband

goods or items whose importation, exportation, or possession is prohibited by law

Ex: Customs officials conducted an investigation into the flow of contraband through the port .
Close
Sign in
to smuggle

to move goods or people illegally and secretly into or out of a country

Ex: The gang smuggled rare animals across the border .
Close
Sign in
to abuse
to abuse
[Verb]

to cruelly or violently treat a person or an animal, especially regularly or repeatedly

Ex: Teachers are trained to recognize signs of bullying and intervene when students are abusing their peers .
Close
Sign in
to blackmail

to gain money, property, or some advantage by threatening someone

Ex: He faced charges for attempting to blackmail a politician .
Close
Sign in
to abduct
to abduct
[Verb]

to illegally take someone away, especially by force or deception

Ex: If the security measures fail , criminals will likely abduct more victims .
Close
Sign in
to swindle

to use deceit in order to deprive someone of their money or other possessions

Ex: Do n't fall victim to schemes that promise unrealistic returns but ultimately swindle you out of your hard-earned money .
Close
Sign in
to collude

‌to cooperate secretly or illegally for deceiving other people

Ex: The competitors were suspected of colluding to divide up contracts and stifle competition in the industry .
Close
Sign in
to conspire

to make secret plans with other people to commit an illegal or destructive act

Ex: The political scandal involved high-profile figures conspiring to manipulate public opinion .
Close
Sign in
to slander

to make false and adverse statements about someone for defamation

Close
Sign in
embezzlement

the act of stealing funds that are placed in one's trust and belong to one's employer

Ex: Conviction for embezzlement can result in severe penalties , including imprisonment , fines , and restitution to the victims .
Close
Sign in
to trespass

to enter someone's land or building without permission

Ex: The homeowner pressed charges against the individuals for trespassing on their land without permission.
Close
Sign in
carjacking

the act of violently stealing a car while someone is inside it

Ex: She was traumatized after a carjacking that occurred while she was stopped at a red light .
Close
Sign in
delinquency

a minor crime or misdeed, especially of a young person

Ex: Chronic delinquency in adolescence can sometimes predict continued criminal behavior into adulthood , highlighting the need for effective prevention strategies .
Close
Sign in
felon
felon
[noun]

someone who has committed or has been legally found guilty of a serious crime

Ex: The community was concerned about the presence of a known felon in their neighborhood .
Close
Sign in
accomplice

someone who helps another to commit a crime or do a wrongdoing

Ex: The investigators uncovered evidence linking him to the crime , establishing his role as an accomplice.
Close
Sign in
misdemeanor

an action that is considered wrong or unacceptable yet not very serious

Ex: Public intoxication is often classified as a misdemeanor, leading to a night in jail or a minor fine .
Close
Sign in
felony
felony
[noun]

a serious crime such as arson, murder, rape, etc.

Ex: His criminal record showed multiple felonies, making it difficult for him to find employment after his release from prison .
Close
Sign in
homicide
homicide
[noun]

the act of one person killing another, whether lawfully or unlawfully

Ex: Homicide rates have decreased in the city over the past decade .
Close
Sign in
genocide
genocide
[noun]

a mass murder committed in order to destroy a particular nation, religious or ethnic group, or race

Ex: Preventing genocide and atrocities is a critical goal of international human rights efforts .
Close
Sign in
heist
heist
[noun]

‌an act of violently stealing something valuable, especially from a shop or bank

Ex: The heist involved stealing millions in cash .
Close
Sign in
larceny
larceny
[noun]

the act of stealing something from someone, especially without breaking into a building

Ex: Police investigated the larceny at the warehouse .
Close
Sign in
perjury
perjury
[noun]

the offense of telling lies in a court of law after you have vowed to tell the truth

Ex: She admitted to perjury under cross-examination.
Close
Sign in
serial killer

someone who commits a series of murders in a similar pattern

Ex: Many true-crime books explore cases of serial killers.
Close
Sign in
confinement

the action of keeping someone in a closed space, prison, etc., usually by force

Ex: She protested against the unfair confinement of political prisoners .
Close
Sign in
incrimination

the act of suggesting that someone is guilty, particularly of a crime

Ex: The incrimination of the suspect was based on eyewitness testimony .
Close
Sign in
to apprehend

to arrest someone

Ex: Special units are currently apprehending suspects involved in financial fraud .
Close
Sign in
to extradite

to send someone accused of a crime to the place where the crime happened or where they are wanted for legal matters

Ex: The judge ruled that they could not extradite the accused without proper evidence .
Close
Sign in
to detain
to detain
[Verb]

to officially hold someone in a place, such as a jail, and not let them go

Ex: The store security may detain shoplifters until the arrival of law enforcement .
Close
Sign in
incarceration

the act of putting or keeping someone in captivity

Ex: Her incarceration gave her time to reflect on the choices she made in life .
Close
Sign in
to exile
to exile
[Verb]

to force someone to live away from their native country, usually due to political reasons or as a punishment

Ex: The journalist was exiled for exposing government corruption .
Close
Sign in
disciplinary
disciplinary
[Adjective]

relating to the enforcement of rules or the correction of behavior

Ex: Effective disciplinary action aims to modify behavior and prevent future infractions .
Close
Sign in
to confiscate

to officially take away something from someone, usually as punishment

Ex: By the end of the day , the teacher will have hopefully confiscated any unauthorized items .
Close
Sign in
to execute

to kill someone, especially as a legal penalty

Ex: International human rights organizations often condemn governments that execute individuals without fair trials or proper legal representation .
Close
Sign in
to forfeit

to no longer be able to access a right, property, privilege, etc. as a result of violating a law or a punishment for doing something wrong

Ex: Failure to comply with regulations may lead businesses to forfeit their operating permits .
Close
Sign in
LanGeek
Download LanGeek app