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to incriminate

to incriminate

50 7.4
To make someone seem guilty of a crime by showing proof against them
  • verb
  • /ɪnˈkrɪməˌneɪt/
translation icon : incriminar
  • And there was nothing in what he had read or seen that would incriminate anyone.
  • incriminating evidence
  • a self-incriminating statement

Yeah, like, I don't want to incriminate myself.

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Examples

  • We, uh... couldn't find anything incriminating, sir.

  • Now it seems as if we have another witness who must have seen something incriminating.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • I have nothing more to say on the grounds that it may tend to incriminate me.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • And what about a person's right to remain silent and not incriminate himself or herself?

    Blog text (31)
  • "And the only reason to throw it after she'd been killed had to be to incriminate Craig.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • May I remind you that you can refuse to answer any question you may regard as incriminating.

  • "I suppose he didn't say anything incriminating over the phone," I said.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • Former communists, fearful of incriminating themselves and others, were typically the victims of these political purges.

    Academic text (1996)
  • He hasn't said anything incriminating, but he's at the Rawal call centre in Rawalpindi.

  • The lawyer advised her not to answer questions that could incriminate her during the investigation.

Synonyms

to accuse
vsto incriminate
2.7

Say that someone did something wrong or illegal

presents evidence or suggestions rather than only stating the allegation
to set up
vsto incriminate
146 6.2

To trick someone so they appear guilty by using false evidence

can involve real guilt or true evidence, not only tricking an innocent person
to frame
vsto incriminate
123 7.5

To make someone look guilty of a crime by leaving false evidence

does the same without implying fabricated evidence or deliberate deception
to implicate
vsto incriminate
82 7.2

Show that someone helped commit a crime

focuses on declaring guilt through evidence rather than only showing involvement
to condemn
vsto incriminate
46 4.8

To show by actions or facts that someone is guilty

relies more on suggesting guilt rather than proving it definitively
to inculpate
vsto incriminate
  • Formal
1 9.9

To say someone is guilty of a crime

uses evidence or clues to make someone appear guilty
to criminate
vsto incriminate
  • Archaic
9.9

To say someone committed a crime, for example in court

is broader and makes someone seem guilty through evidence rather than formal charge
to set up as the patsy
vsto incriminate
  • Informal
9.1

To make someone look guilty for something they did not do by tricking other people

can also apply when evidence legitimately points to guilt, not only staged deception

Antonyms

to exonerate
  • Formal
129 8.2

To say officially that someone is not guilty of a crime

How Guilty

to convict
  • Formal
921 4.0
to incriminate
50 7.4
to implicate
82 7.2
to exonerate
  • Formal
129 8.2

Surface Forms

incriminate infinitive
incriminated past participle
incriminating present participle
incriminates third person singular

Morphology

incriminate = crimin (semi-transparent) = in + crimin + ate

The prefix 'in-' suggests 'into' or 'towards', and 'crimin' is clear, but the specific legal implication of 'incriminate' is not fully transparent.

Etymology

Incriminate comes from Latin parts in- ('in') and crimen ('crime' or 'accusation'), and you can see the same root in crime and criminal. So, to incriminate someone is to 'place' a crime on them or to make them seem guilty.