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recriminate

[ ri-krim-uh-neyt ]
/ rɪˈkrɪm əˌneɪt /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR recriminate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), re·crim·i·nat·ed, re·crim·i·nat·ing.

to bring a countercharge against an accuser.

verb (used with object), re·crim·i·nat·ed, re·crim·i·nat·ing.

to accuse in return.

RELATED WORDS

criticize, castigate, taunt, denounce, chide, berate, blame, admonish, upbraid, censure, rebuke, reprimand, vilify, reproach, prosecute, sue, name, brand, summon, cite

Nearby words

  1. recreational vehicle,
  2. recreationalist,
  3. recreationist,
  4. recreatory,
  5. recrement,
  6. recrimination,
  7. recriminatory,
  8. recross,
  9. recrudesce,
  10. recrudescence

Origin of recriminate

1595–1605; < Medieval Latin recrīminātus (past participle of recrīminārī to accuse in turn), equivalent to re- re- + crīmin-, stem of crīmen accusation, blame (see crime) + -ātus -ate1
Related formsre·crim·i·na·tion, nounre·crim·i·na·tive, re·crim·i·na·to·ry [ri-krim-uh-nuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] /rɪˈkrɪm ə nəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/, adjectivere·crim·i·na·tor, nounun·re·crim·i·na·tive, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for recriminate

British Dictionary definitions for recriminate

recriminate

/ (rɪˈkrɪmɪˌneɪt) /

verb

(intr) to return an accusation against someone or engage in mutual accusations
Derived Formsrecriminative or recriminatory, adjectiverecriminator, noun

Word Origin for recriminate

C17: from Medieval Latin recrīmināre, from Latin crīminārī to accuse, from crīmen an accusation; see crime
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 recriminate

recriminate

v.

"return one accusation with another," c.1600, from Medieval Latin recriminatus, past participle of recriminari "to make charges against," from Latin re- "back, again" (see re-) + criminari "to accuse," from crimen (genitive criminis) "a charge" (see crime). Related: Recriminated; recriminating.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper