Convict – Meaning, Definition, Synonyms and Antonyms
Convict is used as a verb in English. It means to declare someone guilty of a crime after a court process, and it can also describe the act of proving wrongdoing.
Meaning:
To convict means to declare that someone is guilty of a crime in a court of law. If a person is convicted, it means the court (for example, a judge or jury) has determined that the person committed the offense. In everyday usage, people may also use the word in a broader sense when evidence “convicts” someone by showing they acted wrongly.
Definition:
Conviction is serious because it can affect a person’s criminal record, legal rights, and future opportunities. A person who is convicted may be able to appeal the decision if they believe there was a legal error, such as an issue with evidence, procedure, or the interpretation of the law. For related vocabulary around judgment and wrongdoing, you can compare the concept with condemnation, which focuses more on expressing strong disapproval than on the courtroom finding of guilt.
Example Sentences:
- The jury decided to convict him of robbery after reviewing the evidence.
- She was convicted of fraud and sentenced to five years in prison.
- The lawyer argued that there wasn’t enough evidence to convict his client.
- After the trial, the judge will decide whether to convict the defendant.
- The man was convicted of a crime he didn’t commit, but later his innocence was proven.
- New testimony and documents were presented to convict the suspect in a separate case.
Convict Synonyms:
- Condemnation (as a related legal/moral judgment concept)
- Criminalize
- Imprison
- Guilty (to be found guilty)
- Prosecute (in contexts where conviction follows prosecution)
- Sentence (after conviction)
- Rule against (in legal outcomes)
- Penalize (result of a guilty finding)
Convict Antonyms:
- Vindication
- Exonerate
- Acquit
- Release
- Pardon
- Absolve
- Clear (someone’s name)
- Overturn (a conviction)
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