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.
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
But sometimes the police turn out to be the bad guys, and the incriminating evidence is on them.
—
Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2025
Parking Fine Captures Woman's Skincare Routine By Alyce Collins
Life and Trends Reporter
Newsweek Is A Trust Project Member
news article
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The internet has been left in hysterics by a woman's parking ticket, as the incriminating image just so happened to capture her skincare routine.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 19 Feb. 2025
The shawl that ultimately incriminated Kosminski, per the researcher, was taken from the scene of Catherine Eddowes' 1888 murder in London's Mitre Square, which later came into Edwards’ possession in 2007.
—Bailey Richards, People.com, 16 Feb. 2025
Perkins — almost 20 years after the crime — is the only one of three suspects still incriminated.
—Kallie Cox, Charlotte Observer, 17 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incriminate
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2025
Parking Fine Captures Woman's Skincare Routine By Alyce Collins
Life and Trends Reporter
Newsweek Is A Trust Project Member
news article
0
The internet has been left in hysterics by a woman's parking ticket, as the incriminating image just so happened to capture her skincare routine.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 19 Feb. 2025
The shawl that ultimately incriminated Kosminski, per the researcher, was taken from the scene of Catherine Eddowes' 1888 murder in London's Mitre Square, which later came into Edwards’ possession in 2007.
—Bailey Richards, People.com, 16 Feb. 2025
Perkins — almost 20 years after the crime — is the only one of three suspects still incriminated.
—Kallie Cox, Charlotte Observer, 17 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incriminate
Cite this Entry
“Incriminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incriminate. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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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