1
a
: the subjection of a prisoner to mental or physical torture to extract a confession
In its ruling the Court also criticized contemporary interrogation practices, finding in effect that a psychological third degree had replaced the physical third degree.—
Edwin Dobb
Edwin Dobb
b
: a long and intense period of questioning
I don't know what kind of first dates you are having, but it might benefit you to make them more casual … so a conversation won't become a third degree.—Abigail Van Buren
—usually used with theAbigail Van BurenMy mother put me through the third degree. Questions—questions—questions. She's driving me nuts!—Judy Blume
Judy BlumeShould anyone give you the third degree on your return to work, don't hesitate to become indignant and stomp out of the room.—Jeff Foxworthy
Jeff Foxworthy2
US
: the level of a crime that is less than second degree and warrants less severe punishment
third-de·gree
ˈthərd-di-ˈgrē 
1
US, of a crime
: of a level of seriousness that is less than second-degree : warranting punishment but less severe punishment than that for a second-degree crime
2
: causing or characterized by a severe level of injury
a third-degree concussion
see also third-degree burn
Examples of third degree in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebTommy McArdle, Peoplemag, 1 May 2024
Her husband is facing charges of murder in the first, second and third degrees, and was arraigned on April 11, officials say.
—Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 11 Apr. 2024
Majors was found guilty of one count of misdemeanor assault in the third degree and one count of harassment in December 2023, stemming from a March 2023 altercation with his then-girlfriend Grace Jabbari in New York City.
—Rivea Ruff, Essence, 8 Apr. 2024
The Star previously reported on Robinson in 2019 when he, then 52-years-old, was charged with third degree assault for allegedly body slamming a woman to the pavement and punching her at least 30 times during an alleged road rage incident.
—Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2024
The suit comes just three months after a New York jury found Majors guilty of one count of reckless assault in the third degree and a non-criminal charge of harassment as a violation, relating to a domestic dispute with Jabbari in March 2023.
—Maria Sole Campinoti, CNN, 20 Mar. 2024
Then, in 2019, he was arrested on charges of grand larceny in the third degree and taken back to Rikers, reported the New York Post.
—Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 28 Feb. 2024
He is charged with burglary in the third degree and unauthorized use of a vehicle, and was taken to juvenile detention, according to police.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2024
Although Majors maintained his innocence and claimed Jabbari was the aggressor that night, a jury found Majors guilty of reckless assault in the third degree and harassment in December.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2024
Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 15 May 2024
The third-degree payoff to that exchange comes nearly an hour later in the film.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 14 May 2024
The deadly conduct and unlawfully carrying a weapon charges are third-degree felonies, which could add two to 10 years for each count.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2024
The toddler suffered second- and third-degree burns to 98% of his body.
—Vanessa Etienne, Peoplemag, 13 May 2024
In a press conference after the fire, Milwaukee Fire Department Fire Chief Aaron Lipski said McMenamin, who was not identified at the time, suffered some third-degree burns and burns affecting about 23% of his body, mostly to his back.
—David Clarey, Journal Sentinel, 10 May 2024
Kennedy-McLeod was accused of abusing Oliver, who died in late 2020 after being hospitalized more than a month earlier with multiple third-degree burns suffered in a bathtub along with blunt force trauma injuries.
—Rachel Smith, The Courier-Journal, 8 May 2024
Her face was charred with third-degree burns after an Israeli airstrike hit her home at Jabalia refugee camp, the aid group said.
—Ana Ley, New York Times, 5 May 2024
Both charges are classified as third-degree felonies in Florida.
—Greg Wehner, Fox News, 2 May 2024
Noun
At the conclusion of his December 2023 criminal trial, he was found guilty on misdemeanor assault in the third degree, recklessly causing physical injury as well as harassment in the second degree.
—Tommy McArdle, Peoplemag, 1 May 2024
Her husband is facing charges of murder in the first, second and third degrees, and was arraigned on April 11, officials say.
—Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 11 Apr. 2024
Majors was found guilty of one count of misdemeanor assault in the third degree and one count of harassment in December 2023, stemming from a March 2023 altercation with his then-girlfriend Grace Jabbari in New York City.
—Rivea Ruff, Essence, 8 Apr. 2024
The Star previously reported on Robinson in 2019 when he, then 52-years-old, was charged with third degree assault for allegedly body slamming a woman to the pavement and punching her at least 30 times during an alleged road rage incident.
—Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2024
The suit comes just three months after a New York jury found Majors guilty of one count of reckless assault in the third degree and a non-criminal charge of harassment as a violation, relating to a domestic dispute with Jabbari in March 2023.
—Maria Sole Campinoti, CNN, 20 Mar. 2024
Then, in 2019, he was arrested on charges of grand larceny in the third degree and taken back to Rikers, reported the New York Post.
—Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 28 Feb. 2024
He is charged with burglary in the third degree and unauthorized use of a vehicle, and was taken to juvenile detention, according to police.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2024
Although Majors maintained his innocence and claimed Jabbari was the aggressor that night, a jury found Majors guilty of reckless assault in the third degree and harassment in December.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2024
Adjective
Bailey was charged with third-degree grand theft and organized fraud.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 15 May 2024
The third-degree payoff to that exchange comes nearly an hour later in the film.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 14 May 2024
The deadly conduct and unlawfully carrying a weapon charges are third-degree felonies, which could add two to 10 years for each count.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2024
The toddler suffered second- and third-degree burns to 98% of his body.
—Vanessa Etienne, Peoplemag, 13 May 2024
In a press conference after the fire, Milwaukee Fire Department Fire Chief Aaron Lipski said McMenamin, who was not identified at the time, suffered some third-degree burns and burns affecting about 23% of his body, mostly to his back.
—David Clarey, Journal Sentinel, 10 May 2024
Kennedy-McLeod was accused of abusing Oliver, who died in late 2020 after being hospitalized more than a month earlier with multiple third-degree burns suffered in a bathtub along with blunt force trauma injuries.
—Rachel Smith, The Courier-Journal, 8 May 2024
Her face was charred with third-degree burns after an Israeli airstrike hit her home at Jabalia refugee camp, the aid group said.
—Ana Ley, New York Times, 5 May 2024
Both charges are classified as third-degree felonies in Florida.
—Greg Wehner, Fox News, 2 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'third degree.' 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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Cite this Entry
“Third degree.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/third%20degree. Accessed 19 May. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
third-degree
adjective
: causing or characterized by a severe level of injury
Third-degree frostbite involves skin and deeper subcutaneous tissues, resulting in the formation of hemorrhagic blisters as well as skin necrosis with permanent nerve damage.—Emergency Medicine Reports
see also third-degree burn compare first-degree, second-degree
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