complicit

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'complicit' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is knowingly involved in an unlawful or immoral act. For example, "The accomplice was found to be complicit in the robbery."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Opinion

World

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Crider suspected that the US, which sent interrogators to interview Mobley shortly after he was detained, is complicit in his apparent disappearance.

The Guardian

The Smyth scandal and the disclosure that the authorities were complicit in the cover-up led to the collapse of the Fianna Fáil-Labour government, which at the time was basking in the glow of helping to secure the IRA's 1994 ceasefire.

The Guardian

Olivier's Richard is the charismatic antihero who, confiding directly in you as the viewer, makes you complicit in his plots and crimes.

The Guardian - Film

But Shakespeare's great trick, he suggests, is to make the audience complicit in Iago's villainy.

The Guardian

Journalists, never shy of overstatement, are complicit, and politicians need no encouragement.

The Guardian - Opinion

If it doesn't, it risks being actively complicit in the extinction of this wild and beautiful Scottish beast.

The Guardian - Opinion

In pursuing these contracts, Grayling is making every one of us complicit in the administration of some of the world's most brutal and oppressive judicial regimes.

The Guardian - Opinion

It is our duty to hold our governments accountable for being complicit in human rights violations carried out by countries that we are friendly with.

The Guardian - Opinion

Lynas counters that he's unable to defend himself from charges he's exaggerated his role due the illegality of the acts he and his associates were complicit in.

The Guardian

In fact, he has been complicit in the expansion of the welfare state.

The Guardian

You become a complicit participant in a military expansionist agenda on the continent of Africa.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "complicit", ensure you can clearly articulate the questionable activity the person or entity is associated with. Provide specific examples or context to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "complicit" when the association with a questionable activity is tenuous or based on circumstantial evidence. Instead, consider using terms like "aware of" or "associated with" to accurately reflect the level of involvement.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "complicit" functions primarily to describe someone or something as being involved in an illegal or morally questionable act. It often implies a degree of knowing participation or acceptance of the wrongdoing. As Ludwig AI indicates, it suggests involvement in an unlawful or immoral activity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Opinion

30%

World

15%

Less common in

Books

3%

Tech

2%

Arts

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "complicit" is an adjective used to describe someone or something that is involved in or associated with a questionable or illegal activity. As Ludwig AI notes, it indicates a knowing involvement in wrongdoing. It frequently appears in news and opinion pieces, often assigning blame or highlighting shared responsibility. While grammatically straightforward, it's important to use "complicit" accurately, ensuring the connection to the questionable act is clear. Alternative phrases like "involved in" or "an accessory to" might be more appropriate when the level of involvement is less certain. Overall, the word "complicit" is a common and powerful term for describing a morally or legally questionable association.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an accomplice in

Specifically refers to assisting in a crime.

colluding with

Emphasizes secret cooperation, often for illegal purposes.

in collusion with

Emphasizes a secret or illegal cooperation.

an accessory to

Highlights the role of assisting in a crime or misdeed.

implicated in

Suggests being connected to a negative act, often through indirect evidence.

involved in

Focuses on the act of being engaged in something, often implying knowledge but not necessarily guilt.

in league with

Suggests a strong alliance, often with negative connotations.

a party to

Indicates being formally included or involved in an agreement or action.

knowing of

Focuses on awareness and acceptance, implying a lack of intervention.

associated with

Indicates a connection or involvement without necessarily implying guilt.

FAQs

How is "complicit" typically used in a sentence?

Typically, "complicit" describes someone or something that is involved in or helps to enable wrongdoing. For example, "The corporation was "complicit" in the environmental damage."

What are some alternatives to using "complicit"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "involved in", "an accessory to", or "in collusion with".

Is there a difference between being "complicit" and being "involved"?

While both terms suggest participation, "complicit" implies a moral or legal culpability that "involved" does not necessarily carry. "Involved" simply means participating, while "complicit" suggests knowing participation in something wrong.

Can inaction make someone "complicit"?

Yes, inaction can make someone "complicit" if their failure to act helps enable or conceal wrongdoing. This is particularly true when the person has a duty to act.