verb

implicate

to implicate, to involve, to suggest

The evidence implicates him in the crime.

The evidence implicates him in the crime.

His statement implicates a larger conspiracy.

His statement implicates a larger conspiracy.

((sb.)) ((in sth.)) to show that (sb.) is involved in (sth.) bad The evidence implicates him in the crime.

Synonyms: involve, incriminate, entail; Antonyms: exonerate, absolve

From Latin 'implicare' (to involve, entangle), from 'in-' (in) + 'plicare' (to fold). Literally 'to fold into'.

Think of being 'folded into' a bad situation. The 'plic' root is also in words like 'complicate' and 'apply'.

This page is designed for learning support. Please use it as a learning reference, not as a formal reference.