in the first degree
idiom
: of the most serious type : deserving the harshest punishment
She was accused of murder in the first degree.
Examples of in the first degree in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Hardin pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 30 years in prison in 2017 for murder in the first degree for shooting and killing Appleton in February of the same year, according to court records.
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James Powel, USA Today, 7 June 2025
He's been charged with reckless driving, disobeying the signal of an officer, failure to maintain lane, passing on the right, improper turn, passing at an unsafe distance, engaging police in a pursuit, interfering with an officer and reckless endangerment in the first degree.
—Michael Nied, People.com, 6 June 2025
She is charged with domestic violence in the first degree and assault in the first degree, police said.
—Natalie Demaree, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2025
Ultimately Hector is found not guilty of murder in the first degree, second degree, and manslaughter.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
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James Powel, USA Today, 7 June 2025
He's been charged with reckless driving, disobeying the signal of an officer, failure to maintain lane, passing on the right, improper turn, passing at an unsafe distance, engaging police in a pursuit, interfering with an officer and reckless endangerment in the first degree.
—Michael Nied, People.com, 6 June 2025
She is charged with domestic violence in the first degree and assault in the first degree, police said.
—Natalie Demaree, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2025
Ultimately Hector is found not guilty of murder in the first degree, second degree, and manslaughter.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for in the first degree
Cite this Entry
“In the first degree.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20the%20first%20degree. Accessed 26 Jun. 2025.
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