criminally

This adverb functions in two distinct registers. In a legal or formal context, it describes actions that constitute a crime or are punishable by law, maintaining a neutral, objective tone. It is used to categorize behavior within a judicial framework.

In a colloquial or hyperbolic context, it is used as an intensifier to mean "extremely" or "excessively," often regarding something that is surprisingly bad or unfairly good. For example, describing a price as "criminally expensive" suggests that the cost is so high it feels like a theft, though no actual law is being broken.