inculpate

American  

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

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inculpate British  

/ ˈɪnkʌlˌpeɪt, ɪnˈkʌlpeɪt /

verb

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

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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

These, sir, are the bare facts of the case, and, as you can see, they certainly appear to inculpate Dr Pendle in the crime.'

From The Bishop's Secret by Fergus Hume

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

The rector inculpated the abbot, and each appealed to Rome, with what result is unknown.

From The Story of Paris by Katherine Kimball

It was only now, at the eleventh hour, that the Italian had become inculpated, and the question of his possible anxiety to escape had never been considered.

From The Rome Express by Arthur Griffiths

The judge in the course of his remarks said, the articles inculpated might be blasphemous, but assuredly they were not indecent.

From Prisoner for Blasphemy by G. W. (George William) Foote

Not only were parties inculpated without fault, but tried without defence.

From Life and Character of Richard Carlile by George Jacob Holyoake

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

She did not realise the enormous difference recognised by the whole civilised world between thought and act, between disposing mind and inculpating deed.

From Beatrice by Henry Rider Haggard

On the contrary, she saw with deep pain how every one was busy in inculpating others, and in casting suspicions on royalists and Jacobins, so as to give a pretext to punish them.

From Empress Josephine An historical sketch of the days of Napoleon by L. (Luise) Mühlbach

With a sheaf of these letters in his pocket, each one inculpating both parties to the illegal "deals," Blount grew gayly exultant.

From The Honorable Senator Sage-Brush by Francis Lynde

What exaggerated wild thing might she not say, unintentionally inculpating half Witch-Face Mountain in robbery and murder!

From The Mystery of Witch-Face Mountain and Other Stories by Mary Noailles Murfree