incriminate
Americanverb (used with object)
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to accuse of or present proof of a crime or fault.
He incriminated both men to the grand jury.
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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.
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to charge with responsibility for all or part of an undesirable situation, harmful effect, etc..
to incriminate cigarettes as a cause of lung cancer.
verb
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to imply or suggest the guilt or error of (someone)
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to charge with a crime or fault
Other Word Forms
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.
Vocabulary lists containing incriminate
Flush
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And Then There Were None
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Catching Fire
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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.
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
Some of the series’ most captivating scenes involve Cupp simply staring at her various suspects as they squirm and voluntarily incriminate themselves.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2025
After being sworn as a witness, the coroner warned him that he was not obliged to answer questions if he believed his response could "incriminate" him.
From BBC • Feb. 12, 2025
“That is more difficult. The English, they do not stab. You are right there. I incline to the view that someone else dropped the pipe cleaner—and did so to incriminate the long-legged Englishman.”
From "Murder on the Orient Express" by Agatha Christie
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
