incriminate

verb

in·​crim·​i·​nate in-ˈkri-mə-ˌnāt How to pronounce incriminate (audio)
incriminated; incriminating

transitive verb

: to charge with or show evidence or proof of involvement in a crime or fault
incrimination noun
incriminatory adjective

Did you know?

Testimony may incriminate a suspect by placing him at the scene of a crime, and incriminating evidence is the kind that strongly links him to it. But the word doesn't always refer to an actual crime. We can say, for instance, that a virus has been incriminated as the cause of a type of cancer, or that video games have been incriminated in the decline in study skills among young people.

Examples of incriminate in a Sentence

Material found at the crime scene incriminates the defendant. in exchange for a reduced sentence, the thief agreed to incriminate his accomplice
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Aside from protecting your phone’s communications from surveillance, be prepared in the event police seize your device and try to unlock it in search of incriminating evidence. Andy Greenberg, Wired News, 12 June 2025 But Musk's claim taps into suspicions among conspiracy theorists and online sleuths that incriminating and sensitive files that the government possesses about Epstein's case have yet to be released. Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025 The insinuation tapped into long-standing suspicions among conspiracy theorists and online sleuths that incriminating and sensitive files in the government’s possession have yet to be released. Michelle L. Price, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2025 Simone catches Peter's attention and lures him from the house during a big gala and tells him on the beach that Michaela has an incriminating photograph of the two, which can be used as evidence to void their prenup. Francesca Gariano, People.com, 24 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for incriminate

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin incriminatus, past participle of incriminare, from Latin in- + crimin-, crimen crime

First Known Use

circa 1736, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of incriminate was circa 1736

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Incriminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incriminate. Accessed 25 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

incriminate

verb
in·​crim·​i·​nate in-ˈkrim-ə-ˌnāt How to pronounce incriminate (audio)
incriminated; incriminating
1
: to charge with or show evidence or proof of involvement in a crime or fault : accuse
2
: to cause to appear guilty of or responsible for something
evidence that tends to incriminate the defendant
incrimination noun
incriminatory adjective

Legal Definition

incriminate

transitive verb
in·​crim·​i·​nate in-ˈkri-mə-ˌnāt How to pronounce incriminate (audio)
incriminated; incriminating
1
: to charge with involvement in a crime
he was incriminated in the conspiracy
2
: to suggest or show involvement of in a crime
among the evidence that incriminated him was a box of trigger devices
see also self-incrimination
incrimination noun
incriminatory adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on incriminate

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