implicate
Americanverb (used with object)
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to show to be also involved, usually in an incriminating manner.
to be implicated in a crime.
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to imply as a necessary circumstance, or as something to be inferred or understood.
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to connect or relate to intimately; affect as a consequence.
The malfunctioning of one part of the nervous system implicates another part.
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Archaic. to fold or twist together; intertwine; interlace.
verb
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to show to be involved, esp in a crime
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to involve as a necessary inference; imply
his protest implicated censure by the authorities
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to affect intimately
this news implicates my decision
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rare to intertwine or entangle
Related Words
See involve.
Other Word Forms
- implicative adjective
- implicatively adverb
Etymology
Origin of implicate
First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin implicātus, past participle of implicāre “to interweave,” equivalent to im- im- 1 + plicā(re) “to fold” + -ātus -ate 1; ply 2
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Woodall claimed that her boss Bush had then retaliated against her because her complaint also implicated two senior managers in the team who were his close friends.
From BBC
A journalist - who had his house searched by police investigating allegations of spying for China - has told BBC Wales he was baffled to find himself implicated in the case.
From BBC
The files do not implicate Clinton in any wrongdoing; he has not been accused of misconduct by Epstein's victims who have come forward so far, and there is no proof he knew of his crimes.
From BBC
Some posts simply pointed out the corporate structure of the company, while others incorrectly claimed that Black was the CEO of Lifetouch, or that Lifetouch was implicated directly in the files.
The Administration’s strongest argument is that it deserves deference on questions that implicate foreign affairs.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
