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recriminate

[ ri-krim-uh-neyt ]
/ rɪˈkrɪm əˌneɪt /
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See 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.
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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

OTHER WORDS FROM recriminate

re·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

Words nearby recriminate

recreational vehicle, recreation ground, recreationist, recreation room, recrement, recriminate, recrimination, rec room, recross, recrudesce, recrudescence
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to recriminate

allege, arraign, arrest, attack, blame, brand, charge, cite, complain, denounce, implicate, indict, name, prosecute, sue, summon, admonish, berate, castigate, censure

How to use recriminate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for recriminate

recriminate
/ (rɪˈkrɪmɪˌneɪt) /
verb
(intr) to return an accusation against someone or engage in mutual accusations

Derived forms of recriminate

recriminative 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
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