implicating

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "implicating" is correct and usable in written English.
The word "implicating" is typically used to describe an action that suggests that someone is involved in a wrongdoing or crime. For example, you could say "The witness' testimony implicated the suspect in the robbery."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

And last but not least, the alleged 14 cases where the Metropolitan police terminated investigations that were implicating MPs and establishment figures and the 46 instances where similar cover-ups took place.

The Guardian

Corruption went unchecked and the king remained silent over the Al-Yamamah arms deal, exposed in 2003 by the Guardian as a scandal implicating the British military contractor BAE Systems and Prince Sultan, Saudi minister of defence and also the crown prince.

The Guardian

This last scandal reached boiling point recently when the editor of the Malaysia Today website filed a court document implicating deputy PM Najib Tun Razak's wife in the murder.

The Guardian - Opinion

Diplomatic sources said he had told the court what the regime wanted to hear, implicating individuals and foreign governments blamed by Equatorial Guinea for the plot.

The Guardian

By suggesting how women should react, you are (however unintentionally) implicating them in their own assault.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But new ones come along all the time: often it's just a matter of slyly inserting the words "human rights" into a story about everyday injustice or incompetence, thereby implicating the Human Rights Act in a situation where it has never been invoked.

The Guardian - Opinion

He is accused in the Bhutto murder case (though no direct evidence implicating him has emerged), as well as over the killing of a tribal leader, Akbar Bugti.

The Economist

The richest source of evidence implicating Mr bin Laden may prove to be the large number of telephone calls and e-mails between known terrorists which were intercepted after the attack.

The Economist

Mr Nečas's government has been rocked by a string of scandals implicating the Public Affairs party (VV), a junior partner in the three-party coalition, which ran on an anti-corruption ticket during last year's election campaign.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

These reflect the idea that we are interested here in alethic (and thus truth-implicating) necessity and its siblings.

SEP

The latter two are transparently false, for obligations can be violated, and impermissible things do hold.[7] However, as researchers turned to generalizations of alethic modal logic, they began considering wider classes of modal logics, including ones where the necessity operator was not truth-implicating.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "implicating" when you want to suggest involvement, especially in a wrongdoing or crime, but without stating it as a definite fact. It's useful when evidence is circumstantial or suggestive.

Common error

Avoid using "implicating" when you have concrete evidence of someone's involvement. Instead, use stronger terms like 'proving', 'establishing', or 'demonstrating' to reflect the certainty of the situation.

Linguistic Context

The term "implicating" functions as a present participle or gerund, often used to describe an action that suggests someone or something is involved in a particular situation, frequently with negative connotations. Ludwig confirms its correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "implicating" is a versatile verb form used to suggest involvement, often in a negative context, without making a direct accusation. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, and the examples provided by Ludwig demonstrate its prevalence in news, media and scientific writing. When using "implicating", consider the level of certainty you wish to convey, and choose synonyms carefully to avoid overstating the case. The term is grammatically sound and frequently encountered across various sources, with a slightly more pronounced presence in formal and professional writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

incriminating

More explicitly suggests guilt or responsibility for a wrongdoing.

suggesting involvement

More directly indicates that someone or something may be connected to a particular situation, often wrongdoing.

entangling in

Implies a complex or problematic involvement.

pointing to

Suggests directing attention towards someone or something, often as a potential cause or culprit.

tying in with

Suggests a close relationship or connection, often as part of a larger scheme or event.

linking to

Implies a connection or association, which may or may not be negative.

connecting with

Similar to 'linking to', but can also suggest a more neutral or positive association.

associating with

Suggests a relationship or connection, without necessarily implying wrongdoing.

drawing in

Implies a more active involvement or recruitment.

referring to

Highlights that something is related or mentioned in connection with another thing.

FAQs

How is "implicating" typically used in a sentence?

The word "implicating" is used to suggest someone's involvement in a crime or wrongdoing, without directly stating their guilt. For instance, 'The evidence is "pointing to" the suspect, "suggesting involvement" in the conspiracy'.

What are some alternatives to "implicating"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases such as "suggesting involvement", "linking to", or "incriminating". The choice depends on the strength of the suggestion and the nature of the connection.

Is there a difference between "implicating" and "incriminating"?

"Implicating" suggests involvement, while "incriminating" more strongly suggests guilt. "Incriminating" provides stronger evidence or a more direct connection to wrongdoing than "implicating".

When should I use "implicating" over "linking"?

Use "implicating" when the link suggests a negative involvement or wrongdoing. "Linking" is a more neutral term that simply indicates a connection, whereas "implicating" carries a connotation of suspicion or blame. For example 'New evidence is "linking to" the suspect, "suggesting involvement" in the conspiracy'.