implicate

Meaning

Verb

1. (transitive, usually) To show to be connected or involved in an unfavorable or criminal way.
2. (nonstandard, transitive) To imply, to have as a necessary consequence or accompaniment.
3. To imply without entailing; to have as an implicature.
4. (archaic) To fold or twist together, intertwine, interlace, entangle, entwine.

Noun

The thing implied.

Adj

1. (also, figuratively, rare) Intertwined, enfolded, twisted together; wrapped up (with), entangled, involved (in).
2. (also, especially, figuratively, rare) Intertwined, enfolded, twisted together; wrapped up (with), entangled, involved (in).
3. (obsolete) Involved, intricate.

Synonyms

involve

entangle

imply

entail

include

incriminate

concern

frame

drag in

connect

comprise

accuse

charge

enmesh

ensnare

inculpate

embrace

embroil

entwine

flag

hold

impeach

indicate

inscribe

intertwine

mark

mean

mix up

nock

notch

point

portend

put down

register

relate

represent

score

shut

signal

signify

snarl

spell

spot

stand for

stigmatise

stigmatize

subscribe

subsume

tangle

trap

🪤

Translations

implicare

impliquer

verwickeln

verwarren

betrekken

verstrikken

🪤

implicar

envolver

implicar

verwikkelen

enredar

ενοχοποιώ

enredar

coinvolgere

karıştırmak

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɪmplɪkeɪt/

Etymology

First attested in the 15ᵗʰ century, in Middle English; inherited from Middle English implicaten (poorly attested), from implicat(e) (“wrapped, entwined; incolved, connected (with)”, possibly also used as the past participle of implicaten) + -en (verb-forming suffix), borrowed from Latin implicātus, perfect passive participle of implicō (“entangle, involve”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from plicō (“fold”). Doublet of imply and employ.