incriminate

[ in-krim-uh-neyt ]

See synonyms for: incriminate incriminated incriminating incrimination 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

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

Other words from incriminate

in·crim·i·na·tion, noun
in·crim·i·na·tor, noun
in·crim·i·na·to·ry [in-krim-uh-nuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee], /ɪnˈkrɪm ə nəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/, adjective
non·in·crim·i·nat·ing, adjective
non·in·crim·i·na·tion, noun
non·in·crim·i·na·to·ry, adjective
un·in·crim·i·nat·ed, adjective
un·in·crim·i·nat·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use incriminate in a sentence

And they can be used as video incrimination or provide for some good old-fashioned shunning.
So You Want to be a Porn Star? Inside the Sex Tape Phenomenon | Aurora Snow | July 19, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The Fifth Amendment most famously protects against self-incrimination.
There Are No ‘Absolute’ Rights | Michael Tomasky | May 5, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Of the remaining thirty-four there were nine whose testimony was directed to the incrimination of Mrs. Surratt.
The Judicial Murder of Mary E. Surratt | David Miller DeWitt
He felt like a prisoner on the witness stand driven to save himself by incrimination of another.
The Californians | Gertrude Franklin Horn Atherton
Bbrarkk Jjoknyyegg Kekeke immediately took refuge in refusal to answer on grounds of self-incrimination.
Lone Star Planet | Henry Beam Piper and John Joseph McGuire

So was another principal witness, who, however, might decline to testify because of the danger of self-incrimination.
Under Fire | Charles King
The detective had an idea that Avice would be far from pleased at the possible incrimination of Kane Landon.
The Mark of Cain | Carolyn Wells

British Dictionary definitions for incriminate

incriminate

/ (ɪnˈkrɪmɪˌneɪt) /

verb(tr)

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

Origin of incriminate

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

Derived forms of incriminate

incrimination, noun
incriminator, noun
incriminatory, adjective

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

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