implicate
verb
im·pli·cate
ˈim-plə-ˌkāt 
implicated; implicating
1
a
: to bring into intimate or incriminating connection
evidence that implicates him in the bombing
b
: to involve in the nature or operation of something
Scientists have discovered a gene that is implicated in the disease.
2
: to involve as a consequence, corollary, or natural inference : imply
Firing a government employee because of her protest implicates the First Amendment.
3
archaic
: to fold or twist together : entwine
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
On Wednesday, former First Lady Martine Moïse also implicated a former Haitian president and a former prime minister in her husband's killing.
—
Tania Francois, CBS News, 13 Mar. 2026
Another vehicle implicated in this decision that was not mentioned was Sony Honda Mobility’s Afeela 1, an electric sedan set to be manufactured in Ohio, right next to the 0 Series.
—Adam Ismail, The Drive, 12 Mar. 2026
In vacating the murder conviction of Sims, 50, the court found that a Supreme Court judge got it wrong by rejecting new witness testimony implicating the man’s best friend as the potential killer.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 2026
Yet each family member harbors a secret, implicating them all in the tragic accident.
—Ashlee Conour, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for implicate
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Tania Francois, CBS News, 13 Mar. 2026
Another vehicle implicated in this decision that was not mentioned was Sony Honda Mobility’s Afeela 1, an electric sedan set to be manufactured in Ohio, right next to the 0 Series.
—Adam Ismail, The Drive, 12 Mar. 2026
In vacating the murder conviction of Sims, 50, the court found that a Supreme Court judge got it wrong by rejecting new witness testimony implicating the man’s best friend as the potential killer.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 2026
Yet each family member harbors a secret, implicating them all in the tragic accident.
—Ashlee Conour, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for implicate
Cite this Entry
“Implicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/implicate. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
implicate
verb
im·pli·cate
ˈim-plə-ˌkāt
implicated; implicating
: to show to be connected or involved
evidence that implicates him in the robbery
Legal Definition
implicate
transitive verb
im·pli·cate
ˈim-plə-ˌkāt
implicated; implicating
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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