incriminate
verb
in·crim·i·nate
in-ˈkri-mə-ˌnāt 
incriminated; incriminating
: to charge with or show evidence or proof of involvement in a crime or fault
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.
Synonyms
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
In these chapters, Professor Gibson explains the fundamentals of forensic science and explains how plants can leave identifiable and incriminating trace evidence.
—
Grrlscientist, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Police found incriminating items in the car, including guns, wigs, a date rape drug, a notebook detailing their plans and several personal items belonging to Silverman, including her keys and a forged deed to her townhouse.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 19 Nov. 2024
The incriminating statements that Allen made while awaiting trial at Westville Correctional Facility ― and Gull's decision to allow them to be presented to jurors ― also could be raised on appeal, experts say.
—Kristine Phillips, The Indianapolis Star, 13 Nov. 2024
As the details are sorted out, Justin has to figure out how to keep the jury from convicting an innocent man — most of them just want to get home for dinner — while not incriminating himself.
—Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 27 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for incriminate 
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Grrlscientist, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Police found incriminating items in the car, including guns, wigs, a date rape drug, a notebook detailing their plans and several personal items belonging to Silverman, including her keys and a forged deed to her townhouse.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 19 Nov. 2024
The incriminating statements that Allen made while awaiting trial at Westville Correctional Facility ― and Gull's decision to allow them to be presented to jurors ― also could be raised on appeal, experts say.
—Kristine Phillips, The Indianapolis Star, 13 Nov. 2024
As the details are sorted out, Justin has to figure out how to keep the jury from convicting an innocent man — most of them just want to get home for dinner — while not incriminating himself.
—Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 27 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for incriminate
Dictionary Entries Near incriminate
Cite this Entry
“Incriminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incriminate. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
incriminate
verb
in·crim·i·nate
in-ˈkrim-ə-ˌnāt
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
Legal Definition
incriminate
transitive verb
in·crim·i·nate
in-ˈkri-mə-ˌnāt
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
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