- present participle of incriminate.
incriminating
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Explanation
Something incriminating makes it clear that you're guilty. Incriminating evidence is often enough for police to arrest a suspect. An open cookie jar and crumbs all over your brother's shirt are incriminating enough for your grandma to scold him for sneaking cookies, and a detective will probably consider the fact that a suspect is wearing a watch belonging to a robbery victim to be incriminating evidence. In both cases, the evidence suggests guilt. Incriminating comes from the Latin incriminare, "to incriminate," from in-, "in," and criminare, "to accuse of a crime."
Vocabulary lists containing incriminating
The Westing Game
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Red Kayak
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Bomb
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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.
The vehicle’s registration turned out to be expired, Castronovo said, but the driver was allowed to leave without a citation after the officers searched his vehicle and found nothing incriminating.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026
It has also forced a gradual change in people’s behavior to align with the government’s goal of limiting the spread of incriminating information.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 14, 2026
It said it also took into account "the public discussion on social media, which was incriminating for the defendant".
From BBC ● Feb. 19, 2026
Stroup said, “It was kind of almost incriminating to be seen walking up there.”
From Slate ● Dec. 23, 2025
I didn’t carry incriminating evidence around under the insole of my right shoe.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
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.
