inculpate

[in-kuhl-peyt, in-kuhl-peyt]

See more synonyms for inculpate on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), in·cul·pat·ed, in·cul·pat·ing.

to charge with fault; blame; accuse.
to involve in a charge; incriminate.

Origin of inculpate

1790–1800; < Late Latin inculpātus past participle of inculpāre to blame, equivalent to Latin in- in-² + culp(a) fault + -ātus -ate¹; cf. culpable

Related formsin·cul·pa·tion, nounin·cul·pa·to·ry

[in-kuhl-puh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] /ɪnˈkʌl pəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/, adjective

Can be confusedexculpate exonerate inculpateexculpatory inculpatory

Antonyms for inculpate

1, 2. exonerate.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for inculpate

incriminate, involve, charge, implicate, accuse

Examples from the Web for inculpate

Historical Examples of inculpate

He was unwilling to tell what he had seen, lest it inculpate someone.
The Gold Bag
Carolyn Wells
The accused is at liberty not to answer a question which may inculpate him.
Within an Inch of His Life
Emile Gaboriau
But I have already said I am not here to excuse myself or inculpate others.
The Talisman
Sir Walter Scott
It shows how anxious the governor was to remove from his path all those who could inculpate him.
In the Irish Brigade
G. A. Henty
Still nothing has transpired to inculpate any one, or, in the finding of a coroner's jury, connect man or woman with it.
Gwen Wynn
Mayne Reid

British Dictionary definitions for inculpate

inculpate

verb

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

Derived Formsinculpation, nouninculpative (ɪnˈkʌlpətɪv) or inculpatory (ɪnˈkʌlpətərɪ, -trɪ), adjective

Word Origin for inculpate

C18: from Late Latin inculpāre, from Latin culpāre to blame, from culpa fault, blame

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 inculpate

1799, "to accuse, bring charges against," from Medieval Latin inculpatus, past participle of inculpare "to reproach, blame, censure," from Latin in- "in" (see in- (2)) + culpare "to blame," from culpa "fault." But inculpable (late 15c.) means "not culpable, free from blame," from Latin in- "not" (see in- (1)) + culpare.