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Recriminate Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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recriminate

re-crim-i-nate

🇺🇸 /ɹɪˌkɹɪmɪˈneɪt/

Definition

Context #1 | Verb

blame reciprocally

To recriminate means to make an accusation or to retaliate against a charge or accusation made by someone else. It involves responding to allegations with additional accusations, often in a heated or confrontational manner.

Synonyms

accuse, countercharge, retaliate.

Examples of usage

  • After the argument, they began to recriminate each other.
  • In the heated debate, he didn't hesitate to recriminate his opponent.
  • Their relationship deteriorated as they continued to recriminate.
  • The couple often found themselves in a cycle of recrimination.

Translations

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Quick facts about “recriminate”

Recriminate is a 4-syllable verb (re-crim-i-nate). It is pronounced /ɹɪˌkɹɪmɪˈneɪt/. On finesentence.com it has 1 meaning, 3 synonyms, and translations into 21 languages.

Origin of 'recriminate'

The word 'recriminate' originated in the mid-19th century, derived from the Latin 'recriminate', which means 'to accuse in return'. The prefix 're-' indicates repetition, and 'criminare' comes from 'crimen', meaning 'accusation' or 'crime'. Thus, the term essentially describes the act of making counter-accusations. Initially used in legal contexts, the term has evolved over time to encompass broader social interactions where blame-shifting occurs. Its usage has remained consistent in depicting scenarios of mutual accusations, particularly in personal relationships or political disputes.