What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
accriminate
Example
The prosecutor tried to accriminate the defendant, but the evidence was insufficient. [accriminate: verb]
Example
The accrimination against the suspect was based on hearsay and speculation. [accrimination: noun]
incriminate
Example
The witness's testimony helped to incriminate the suspect in the robbery case. [incriminate: verb]
Example
The defendant's attempt to incriminate his accomplice backfired and led to his own arrest. [incriminating: gerund or present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Incriminate is much more commonly used than accriminate in everyday language. Accriminate is a less common word that is often used incorrectly instead of incriminate.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between accriminate and incriminate?
Both accriminate and incriminate are formal words that are typically used in legal or judicial contexts. However, incriminate is more versatile and can be used in various formality levels, while accriminate is less common and may sound archaic or outdated in some contexts.
