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inculpatory

inculpatory

1 9.9
Showing that someone may be guilty of a crime
  • adjective
  • /ɪnˈkʌlpəˌtɔri/
  • Formal
translation icon : inculpatorio
  • An inference of inculpatory conduct cannot be established by indirect evidence when the inference of innocent conduct is equally "as consistent" with the evidence.
  • inculpatory evidence

Examples

  • Accordingly, the results of recent CERCLA generator liability cases have been relatively uniform in discrediting inculpatory circumstantial evidence and refusing to draw inferences in the nonmoving plaintiff's favor.

    Academic text (1995)
  • He didn't share in the country's self-inculpatory mood.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • That's assuming inculpatory facts not in evidence.

  • Further inculpatory evidence against other al Qaeda members might likewise be inadmissible under the rules of evidence.

    Academic text (2005)
  • In dealing with Duke students who played lacrosse, university employees violated the faculty handbook and the student bulletin, and one university employee—Tara Levicy—invented inculpatory evidence.

    Blog text (26)
  • Though more inculpatory and far-reaching than other Pentagon investigations, the report only scratched the surface of what military commanders would later come to recognize as the "battlefield of the mind." In its analysis of what went wrong, the report reserved the brunt of its criticism for problems such as inadequate corrective training and muddled chains of command.

    Academic text (2009)
  • The detective presented several pieces of inculpatory evidence that linked the suspect to the crime scene.

  • The lawyer argued that the inculpatory statements made by the witness were unreliable and should be dismissed.

  • During the trial, the judge allowed the inculpatory evidence to be submitted, which painted a clear picture of the defendant's guilt.

Synonyms

incriminating
vsinculpatory
41 7.2

Showing that someone may be guilty of a crime

is about a general tendency to suggest guilt rather than prove it
inculpative
vsinculpatory
  • Formal
9.9

Likely to show someone is guilty

focuses on showing criminal guilt rather than blaming generally

Antonyms

exculpatory
  • Formal
15 9.9

Evidence or statements that show someone did not commit a crime

How Incriminating

damning
49 5.3
inculpatory
  • Formal
1 9.9
incriminating
41 7.2
suggestive
18 5.2

Surface Forms

inculpatory positive

Morphology

inculpatory = inculpate (semi-transparent) = in + culp + atory

The adjective is formed regularly from the verb 'inculpate' by the productive suffix '-atory', yielding 'relating to or tending to inculpate'.

Etymology

Inculpatory comes from Latin parts in- and culpa, where culpa means 'blame' and is the same root as culprit and culpable. So inculpatory describes something that 'puts blame' on someone and therefore shows or suggests they are guilty.