inculpate

American  

[in-kuhl-payt, in-kuhl-payt] / ɪnˈkʌl peɪt, ˈɪn kʌl peɪt /

verb (used with object)

inculpated, inculpating

1. to charge with fault; blame; accuse.

   Antonyms:

   exonerate

2. to involve in a charge; incriminate.

   Antonyms:

   exonerate

---

inculpate British  

/ ˈɪnkʌlˌpeɪt, ɪnˈkʌlpeɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to incriminate; cause blame to be imputed to

---

Other Word Forms

• inculpation
  noun
• inculpative
  adjective
• inculpatory
  adjective

---

Etymology

Origin of inculpate

First recorded in 1790–1800; from Late Latin inculpātus, past participle of inculpāre “to blame,” equivalent to Latin in- “in” + culp(a) “fault” + -ātus past participle suffix; see in- ², -ate ¹; cf. culpable

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

inculpate inculpated inculpating

The phrase “more modern ways of thinking” may curdle the blood of the reader, who may brace for Ms. Lutz to inculpate her subject in matters of race, class and gender.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026

Nobody doubts that a clever jurist with a dictionary and a truckload of motivated reasoning can use the law to exculpate himself and inculpate others.

From Slate ● Jun. 26, 2023

Thomas said Samia did not deserve a new trial because the confession “did not directly inculpate the defendant and was subject to a proper limiting instruction.”

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 23, 2023

“This is particularly concerning given that the defendant is aware that Witness-1 has information that would tend to inculpate the defendant.”

From New York Times ● Jan. 27, 2023

It is thus that in every country which is governed by police they torment by authority those whom they cannot inculpate with justice.

From Beaumarchais and the War of American Independence by Elizabeth S. Kite

ITV separately agreed to pay Mr. McAlpine more than $200,000 for a program of its own that inculpated him.

From New York Times ● Dec. 19, 2012

Investigations have been made, some of the individuals inculpated have been arrested, and prosecutions are in progress, the result of which can not be doubted.

From A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents Volume 3, part 2: Martin Van Buren by James D. (James Daniel) Richardson

Barrere proposes a middle course:—Will not perhaps the inculpated Deputies consent to withdraw voluntarily; to make a generous demission, and self-sacrifice for the sake of one's country?

From The French Revolution by Thomas Carlyle

A few minutes after the prisoners were brought into the justice-room, a Guilford solicitor of much local celebrity arrived, and announced that he appeared for both the inculpated parties.

From The International Monthly Magazine, Volume 5, No. 1, January, 1852 by Various

M. de Lessart, placed by his position between the armed emigrants, the impatient Assembly, undecided Europe, and the inculpated king, could not fail to fall under his own good intentions.

From History of the Girondists, Volume I Personal Memoirs of the Patriots of the French Revolution by H. T. Ryde

To ask assistance would not only be confessing her own disobedience, but inculpating her brother, and really, perhaps, deprive him of the enjoyments he anticipated, and so confirm his unkind words.

From Home Influence A Tale for Mothers and Daughters by Grace Aguilar

You were then unwilling, as you are now unwilling, to exculpate yourself at the cost of inculpating one who is dear to you.

From A Siren by Thomas Adolphus Trollope

"Well," I said with a faint smile, realising what a grave mistake I had made in inculpating my well-beloved, "I simply made some experiments as an amateur in solving the mystery."

From The Sign of Silence by William Le Queux

His life, to the end, was marked by all insolence and infamy, and on the day of the execution, he made a pretended confession, inculpating two innocent persons.

From Campaigns of a Non-Combatant, and His Romaunt Abroad During the War by George Alfred Townsend

And he was so mortally offended, that he would have betrayed her to the courts even, if he had known how to do it without inculpating himself.

From The Clique of Gold by Émile Gaboriau

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---