complicity
noun
com·plic·i·ty
kəm-ˈpli-s(ə-)tē 
plural complicities
1
: association or participation in or as if in a wrongful act
arrested for complicity in the crime
2
: an instance of complicity
The two share a complicity she calls fraternal.—
Joan Dupont
Joan Dupont
Examples of complicity in a Sentence
There's no proof of her complicity in the murder.
He acted with his brother's complicity.
Recent Examples on the Web
Martine Moïse and Joseph are accused of complicity and criminal association.
—Phil Helsel, NBC News, 12 Mar. 2024
Her larger theme is the complicity of the Filipino public in Duterte’s lawlessness.
—Andrew J. Nathan, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
That’s why the interpretation of the D.C. Circuit’s order as complicity in a politicized rush to judgment is mistaken.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 10 Feb. 2024
End of carousel No matter how blissful a life the Höss family hopes to project, the property reveals the horrors of their complicity and disregard.
—Sonia Rao, Washington Post, 30 Jan. 2024
In the days since the attack, Moscow has returned the favor to Washington for offering the tip by claiming its warning should be treated as evidence of possible American complicity.
—Michael Schwirtz, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024
In providing this support, the United States assumes a degree of complicity in the deeds of its allies.
—Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 12 Mar. 2024
Thousands of pages of internal documents reviewed by The Atlantic show that Facebook’s own employees complained about the company’s complicity in the violence.
—Caroline Mimbs Nyce, The Atlantic, 8 Mar. 2024
In her view, the problem was Gordon's lack of leadership and the board's complicity.
—The Indianapolis Star, 5 Mar. 2024
Phil Helsel, NBC News, 12 Mar. 2024
Her larger theme is the complicity of the Filipino public in Duterte’s lawlessness.
—Andrew J. Nathan, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
That’s why the interpretation of the D.C. Circuit’s order as complicity in a politicized rush to judgment is mistaken.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 10 Feb. 2024
End of carousel No matter how blissful a life the Höss family hopes to project, the property reveals the horrors of their complicity and disregard.
—Sonia Rao, Washington Post, 30 Jan. 2024
In the days since the attack, Moscow has returned the favor to Washington for offering the tip by claiming its warning should be treated as evidence of possible American complicity.
—Michael Schwirtz, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024
In providing this support, the United States assumes a degree of complicity in the deeds of its allies.
—Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 12 Mar. 2024
Thousands of pages of internal documents reviewed by The Atlantic show that Facebook’s own employees complained about the company’s complicity in the violence.
—Caroline Mimbs Nyce, The Atlantic, 8 Mar. 2024
In her view, the problem was Gordon's lack of leadership and the board's complicity.
—The Indianapolis Star, 5 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'complicity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Dictionary Entries Near complicity
Cite this Entry
“Complicity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/complicity. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
complicity
noun
com·plic·i·ty
kəm-ˈplis-ət-ē
plural complicities
: association or participation in a wrongful act
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