Standard Lemma guide

recriminate

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ɹɪˈkɹɪmɪneɪt/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: R IH0 K R IH2 M IH0 N EY1 T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To accuse in return, state an accusation in return, make a countercharge.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: ambitransitive

Examples

  • Tom said Harry had lied, and Harry recriminated by saying Tom had manipulated him.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

return an accusation against someone or engage in mutual accusations; charge in return

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: accuse, impeach, incriminate, criminate

History

Etymology

From Latin recrīminātus, past participle of recrīminō. By surface analysis, re- + criminate.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: esittää vastasyytös — to accuse in return
  • French: récriminer — to accuse in return
  • German: im Gegenzug beschuldigen — to accuse in return
  • German: Gegenbeschuldigungen erheben — to accuse in return
  • German: gegenbeschuldigen — to accuse in return
  • German: entgegnen — to accuse in return
  • German: zurückwerfen — to accuse in return
  • Greek: αντικατηγορώ (antikatigoró) — to accuse in return
  • Hungarian: viszontvádol — to accuse in return
  • Macedonian: противобвинува (protivobvinuva) — to accuse in return
  • Malayalam: പ്രത്യാരോപണം (pratyārōpaṇaṁ) — to accuse in return
  • Māori: whakawāwā — to accuse in return
  • Polish: obwiniać się nawzajem — to accuse in return
  • Spanish: recriminar — to accuse in return