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.

Origin of incriminate

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

Related formsin·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, adjectivenon·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

Related Words for incriminate

indict, prosecute, implicate, involve, name, attribute, frame, brand, attack, inculpate, blame, charge, finger, allege, cite

Examples from the Web for incriminate

Contemporary Examples of 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
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
In other words, he asked Elena Kagan to incriminate herself.
How Elena Kagan Schooled Congress
Tunku Varadarajan
June 28, 2010

Historical Examples of incriminate

How, then, is it lawful to incriminate the Principate of the whole Church?
The Formation of Christendom, Volume VI
Thomas W. (Thomas William) Allies
A prisoner is no longer a man, but a human agent to incriminate others.
The Eternal City
Hall Caine
Even if it were, there was nothing in it to incriminate her.
The Grell Mystery
Frank Froest
We've searched these grounds, and found nothing to incriminate anybody.
No Clue
James Hay
You will find much to incriminate society and precious little that will incriminate me.
The Secret House
Edgar Wallace

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

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.