incriminate

Definitions

Here in- is not the negative in-; it means 'onto, into.' in- (onto) + crimin (charge) + -ate (verb) = 'to load a charge onto someone' — to produce evidence that makes them look guilty.

Why It Means This

Don't confuse this in- with the 'not' prefix (as in incomplete). Incriminate means to push a charge onto someone, not to remove guilt. The most famous use is self-incrimination: in many legal systems you cannot be forced to give evidence that loads a charge onto yourself.

Common Collocations

• 1.incriminate yourself自证其罪
• 2.incriminating evidence罪证
• 3.refuse to incriminate拒绝自证其罪

Example Sentences

• 1.

  He refused to answer any question that might incriminate him.

• 2.

  The leaked emails incriminated several senior officials.

Easily Confused

incriminate vs accuse — accuse is to say openly that someone did wrong ('she accused him of lying'). incriminate is to provide evidence or facts that make them look guilty, often indirectly ('the letter incriminated him'). Evidence incriminates; people accuse.