incriminate

[in-krim-uh-neyt]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR incriminate ON THESAURUS.COM

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

to accuse of or present proof of a crime or fault: He incriminated both men to the grand jury.

to involve in an accusation; cause to be or appear to be guilty; implicate: His testimony incriminated his friend. He feared incriminating himself if he answered.

to charge with responsibility for all or part of an undesirable situation, harmful effect, etc.: to incriminate cigarettes as a cause of lung cancer.

Nearby words

Origin of incriminate

1720–30; < Late Latin incrīminātus past participle of incrīmināre to accuse. See in-², criminate

Related forms

in·crim·i·na·tion, nounin·crim·i·na·tor, nounin·crim·i·na·to·ry

[in-krim-uh-nuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] /ɪnˈkrɪm ə nəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/, adjectivenon·in·crim·i·nat·ing, adjective

non·in·crim·i·na·tion, nounnon·in·crim·i·na·to·ry, adjectiveun·in·crim·i·nat·ed, adjectiveun·in·crim·i·nat·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for incriminate

“Arias had a terrific memory for just about everything except for those aspects of the case that incriminate her,” he says.
Jodi Arias’s High-Wire Act|Christine Pelisek|February 22, 2013|DAILY BEAST
According to a knowledgeable source, Hernandez began to incriminate himself only after more than an hour of questioning.
Why Pedro Hernandez Confessed to Killing Etan Patz|Michael Daly|June 1, 2012|DAILY BEAST
In other words, he asked Elena Kagan to incriminate herself.
How Elena Kagan Schooled Congress|Tunku Varadarajan|June 28, 2010|DAILY BEAST
I incriminate no one; I simply give the naked facts, without the smallest commentary, but with scrupulous exactness.
Library Of The World's Best Literature, Ancient And Modern, Vol 4|Charles Dudley Warner

I decline to answer on the ground it may tend to incriminate me—but, no.
Warren Commission (5 of 26): Hearings Vol. V (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
“Witness does not wish to incriminate herself,” snapped Mercy, her eyes dancing.
Ruth Fielding at Lighthouse Point|Alice B. Emerson
But your man has not succeeded in getting you evidence to incriminate other people.'
The Triumphs of Eugne Valmont|Robert Barr
"It need not incriminate her, if it were hers," said Mr. Porter, meditatively knocking the ash from said his cigar.
The Gold Bag|Carolyn Wells

British Dictionary definitions for incriminate

incriminate

verb (tr)

to imply or suggest the guilt or error of (someone)

to charge with a crime or fault

Derived Formsincrimination, nounincriminator, nounincriminatory, adjective

Word Origin for incriminate

C18: from Late Latin incrīmināre to accuse, from Latin crīmen accusation; see crime

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

Word Origin and History for incriminate

incriminate

1730, back-formation from incrimination or else from Medieval Latin incriminatus, past participle of incriminare "to incriminate," from in- "in" (see in- (2)) + criminare "to accuse of a crime," from crimen (genitive criminis) "crime" (see crime). Related: Incriminated; incriminating.