in the first degree
idiom
: of the most serious type : deserving the harshest punishment
She was accused of murder in the first degree.
Examples of in the first degree in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Online Lexington County Sheriff's Department inmate records stated Dickey was facing a burglary in the first degree charge and an arson in the second degree charge.
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Becca Longmire, People.com, 6 May 2025
New York investigators pushed back against the criticism; Wolford, the prosecutor, said Sam’s killing was being prosecuted as murder in the first degree, the most serious crime in New York state law, with a penalty of life in prison without parole.
—Matt Lavietes, NBC News, 8 Mar. 2025
The men were convicted on 24 counts, including murder in the second degree, robbery in the first degree, and conspiracy in the fourth degree.
—Nic F. Anderson, CNN, 13 Feb. 2025
Sullivan was charged with assault in the first degree, kidnapping in the second degree, unlawful restraint in the first degree, cruelty to persons and reckless endangerment in the first degree, according to officials at the Waterbury Police Department.
—Sean Neumann, People.com, 15 Apr. 2025
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Becca Longmire, People.com, 6 May 2025
New York investigators pushed back against the criticism; Wolford, the prosecutor, said Sam’s killing was being prosecuted as murder in the first degree, the most serious crime in New York state law, with a penalty of life in prison without parole.
—Matt Lavietes, NBC News, 8 Mar. 2025
The men were convicted on 24 counts, including murder in the second degree, robbery in the first degree, and conspiracy in the fourth degree.
—Nic F. Anderson, CNN, 13 Feb. 2025
Sullivan was charged with assault in the first degree, kidnapping in the second degree, unlawful restraint in the first degree, cruelty to persons and reckless endangerment in the first degree, according to officials at the Waterbury Police Department.
—Sean Neumann, People.com, 15 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for in the first degree
Cite this Entry
“In the first degree.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20the%20first%20degree. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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