Synonyms

incriminate

American

[in-krim-uh-neyt] / ɪnˈkrɪm əˌneɪt /

verb (used with object)

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: He feared incriminating himself if he answered.

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.

incriminate British

/ ɪnˈkrɪmɪˌneɪt /

verb

to imply or suggest the guilt or error of (someone)
to charge with a crime or fault

"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

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of incriminate

First recorded in 1720–30; from Late Latin incrīminātus, past participle of incrīmināre “to accuse”; see in- ², criminate

Explanation

Is your homework in shreds and the dog chewing something? Then you can incriminate poor Fido for eating your homework. To incriminate someone (or some dog) of a crime, is more than just accusing them; it's offering some evidence they're guilty. To incriminate someone is to show or prove their guilt with "incriminating evidence." Some famous historical examples of incriminating evidence: When President Nixon declared "I am not a crook," those pesky Watergate tapes suggested otherwise. Or when Lady Macbeth couldn't stop washing her imaginary blood-stained hands? Hmmmm.... Pretty incriminating.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing incriminate

Flush

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

And Then There Were None

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Catching Fire

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

When his bid was dismissed, Mogotsi was clearly furious and refused to answer many of the questions put to him over fears he might incriminate himself.

From BBC • May 30, 2026

In a series of Substack posts, the first of which has garnered 751,000 views, Lizza took aim at Nuzzi’s journalistic integrity, airing alleged text-message exchanges, love poetry and recorded conversations meant to incriminate his ex.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 4, 2025

Byers initially did not want to testify at all, believing his life to be in danger and fearing that he might incriminate himself.

From Slate • Dec. 1, 2025

“Officers are going to be pushy, they’re going to try to get you to be nervous so that you can make a mistake and incriminate yourself,” Trujillo said.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 22, 2025

There was nothing in it to incriminate him.

From "Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam" by Elizabeth Partridge

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023