1 implicate | Definition of implicate

implicate

verb
im·​pli·​cate | \ ˈim-plə-ˌkāt How to pronounce implicate (audio) \
implicated; implicating

Definition of implicate

transitive verb

1 : to involve as a consequence, corollary, or natural inference : imply
2 archaic : to fold or twist together : entwine
3a : to bring into intimate or incriminating connection evidence that implicates him in the bombing
b : to involve in the nature or operation of something

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Examples of implicate in a Sentence

His business partner was implicated in the theft. the implicated vines did form a most restful garden bower

Recent Examples on the Web

The result gives a sense of nuance to her work, implicating the very words on the page. Maya Phillips, The New Yorker, "Joy Harjo, the Poet of American Memory," 29 Aug. 2019 The question now, heading into season 3, is whether Clay will be able to explain to the police what just happened without getting arrested or implicating Tyler and causing him even more harm. Rachel Paige, refinery29.com, "Clay Ended 13 Reasons Why Season 2 In A Very Compromising Position," 24 Aug. 2019 In the last few weeks, such a charitable interpretation has become very hard to sustain, especially as other details—implicating Marvin Minsky and Joi Ito, who has apologized for taking money from Epstein—became public. Evgeny Morozov, The New Republic, "Jeffrey Epstein’s Intellectual Enabler," 22 Aug. 2019 The sudden pivot to violent imagery implicated white women, even those who saw themselves as being limited by the constraints of domesticity, in the imperiling of black women. Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, "How Black Suffragettes Subverted the Domestic Sphere," 18 Aug. 2019 The scandal is the largest to hit the troubled agency, implicating 46 troopers. Matt Rocheleau, BostonGlobe.com, "How one trooper’s alleged racist remark ignited the State Police overtime scandal," 17 Aug. 2019 That Donald Trump would push a conspiracy theory implicating the Clintons in Jeffrey Epstein’s death is not surprising. Kyle Smith, National Review, "The Conspiracy Theories about Jeffrey Epstein’s Death Don’t Make Much Sense," 12 Aug. 2019 Moore, whose character wrongly implicated Taystee in the death of guard Desi Piscatella last season, remembers asking Kohan if the real story about his death would come out. Patti Greco, Glamour, "Orange Is the New Black," 29 July 2019 At his March 21, 2019 trial, three witnesses implicated Bullin as a methamphetamine user. Tyler Carter | [email protected], al, "Alabama man sentenced to 10 years in prison for shooting sheriff deputy," 25 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'implicate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of implicate

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for implicate

Middle English, to convey by implication, from Medieval Latin implicatus, past participle of implicare, from Latin, to entwine, involve — more at employ

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More Definitions for implicate

implicate

verb

English Language Learners Definition of implicate

: to show that someone or something is closely connected to or involved in something (such as a crime)

implicate

verb
im·​pli·​cate | \ ˈim-plə-ˌkāt How to pronounce implicate (audio) \
implicated; implicating

Kids Definition of implicate

: to show to be connected or involved He's been implicated in the crime.

implicate

transitive verb
im·​pli·​cate | \ ˈim-plə-ˌkāt How to pronounce implicate (audio) \
implicated; implicating

Legal Definition of implicate

1 : to involve as a consequence, corollary, or natural inference firing the federal employee because of her protest implicates the First Amendment
2 : to connect to a crime

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