incriminate

/in'krimineit/
Học thuật
Thân thiện
incriminate

The lawyer warned his client not to incriminate himself during the interview.

Definition
  1. Verb:
    • To make someone appear guilty of a crime or wrongdoing; to suggest or show involvement in an illegal act: The core meaning involves presenting evidence or making statements that connect a person to a crime.
    • To accuse formally or informally: It can involve leveling a charge or bringing an accusation against someone.
Usage and Examples
  • Verb:
    • The new evidence could incriminate the suspect. (It could show the suspect's involvement in the crime.)
    • She refused to answer questions, fearing her words might incriminate her. (She was afraid her answers would provide proof of her own guilt.)
    • The witness's testimony incriminated the company's CEO. (The testimony suggested the CEO was guilty.)
Advanced Usage
  • Legal Context: Often used in legal settings regarding evidence, testimony, or rights (e.g., the right against self-incrimination).
    • The defendant invoked his Fifth Amendment right to avoid incriminating himself.
  • "Incriminate oneself": To say or do something that provides evidence of one's own guilt.
    • By lying to the police, he inadvertently incriminated himself.
Variants and Related Words
  • Incrimination (noun): The act of incriminating or the state of being incriminated.
    • The incrimination of the official led to a public scandal.
  • Incriminating (adjective): Serving to incriminate; suggesting guilt.
    • The police found incriminating documents in his office.
  • Self-incrimination (noun): The act of implicating oneself in a crime.
    • The law protects citizens from forced self-incrimination.
Synonyms
  • Accuse: To charge someone with an offense or crime.
  • Implicate: To show or suggest involvement in something illegal or undesirable.
  • Charge: To formally accuse someone of a crime.
Related Phrases and Idioms
  • To be/feel incriminated: To be made to feel or appear guilty.
    • He felt incriminated by the constant questioning, even though he was innocent.
  • Incriminating evidence: Physical or testimonial proof that points toward someone's guilt.
    • The prosecutor presented the murder weapon as incriminating evidence.
incriminate

The lawyer warned his client not to incriminate himself during the interview.

Verb
  1. bring an accusation against; level a charge against
    • The neighbors accused the man of spousal abuse
  2. suggest that someone is guilty

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