criminate

[ krim-uh-neyt ]

See synonyms for criminate on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),crim·i·nat·ed, crim·i·nat·ing.

to charge with a crime.
to incriminate.

to censure (something) as criminal; condemn.

Origin of criminate

First recorded in 1635–45; from Latin crīminātus, past participle of crīminārī “to accuse”; see origin at crime, -ate¹

Other words from criminate

crim·i·na·tion, noun
crim·i·na·tor, noun

Words Nearby criminate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use criminate in a sentence

By this time various circumstances supposed to criminate Ralegh had been collected from the answers of the other accused persons.
Sir Walter Ralegh | William Stebbing
Mr. Stainthorpe replied in the negative, and cautioned him not to say anything that might criminate himself.
Yorkshire Oddities, Incidents and Strange Events | S. Baring-Gould
Everything which goes to criminate them goes directly against the prisoner.
The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. XI. (of 12) | Edmund Burke
Then, witness, let me warn you that you are not obliged to answer any question that may tend to criminate yourself.
East Lynne | Mrs. Henry Wood
Both were impelled by the strongest pressure of hope end fear to criminate him.
The History of England from the Accession of James II. | Thomas Babington Macaulay

British Dictionary definitions for criminate

criminate

/ (ˈkrɪmɪˌneɪt) /

verb(tr) rare

to charge with a crime; accuse
to condemn or censure (an action, event, etc)

short for incriminate

Origin of criminate

C17: from Latin crīminārī to accuse

Derived forms of criminate

crimination, noun
criminative or criminatory (ˈkrɪmɪnətərɪ, -trɪ), adjective
criminator, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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