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criminative

criminative

9.9
Suggesting that someone did something wrong
  • adjective
  • /ˈkrɪmɪnətɪv/
  • Formal
translation icon : incriminatorio
  • The detective presented criminative evidence that pointed directly to the suspect.

Examples

  • The report contained several criminative statements implicating the accused.

  • His silence during questioning was viewed as criminative by the jury.

  • The criminative remarks made during the meeting were shocking.

  • His criminative comments about her past were unnecessary.

  • The detective presented criminative evidence that pointed directly to the suspect.

  • The report contained several criminative statements implicating the accused.

  • His silence during questioning was viewed as criminative by the jury.

Synonyms

incriminating
vscriminative
41 7.2

Showing that someone may be guilty of a crime

is more general, meaning it suggests guilt or blame not only criminal fault
accusatory
vscriminative
10 6.3

Showing blame or suggesting someone did something wrong

is the general tendency to suggest guilt or blame rather than overt accusing
incriminatory
vscriminative
1 8.6

Making someone look guilty of a crime

is broader, applying to guilt or blame beyond legal criminality
accusative
vscriminative
1 8.6

Showing blame toward someone

is about a general tendency to suggest guilt rather than openly accuse
inculpative
vscriminative
  • Formal
9.9

Likely to show someone is guilty

is a broader tendency to suggest guilt or blame rather than assign it directly
criminatory
vscriminative
  • Formal
9.6

Suggesting that someone is guilty or to blame, especially in a legal case

is the general tendency to suggest guilt or blame in any context
accusive
vscriminative
8.2

Showing blame or saying someone did something wrong

is a broader tendency to suggest guilt without necessarily stating accusation

Antonyms

2.2

Not guilty of a crime or wrongdoing

exculpatory
  • Formal
15 9.9

Evidence or statements that show someone did not commit a crime

How Incriminating

damning
49 5.3
criminative
  • Formal
9.9
suggestive
18 5.2
suspicious
300 2.7
neutral
218 3.6

Surface Forms

criminative positive

Morphology

criminative = criminate (semi-transparent) = crimin + ate + ive

The step from 'criminate' to 'criminative' is a regular adjectival formation with '-ive', but the verb 'criminate' is rare, so the link is not fully transparent to most learners.

Etymology

Criminative comes from the Latin root crimen, which means 'charge' or 'accusation', and is the same root behind the familiar words crime and criminal. So, something criminative points to blame or makes someone seem guilty.