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
Lester, 84, was charged with one count of felony assault in the first degree and one count of armed criminal action, also a felony, Clay County prosecuting attorney Zachary Thompson said during a press conference on April 17.
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Deena Zaru, ABC News, 31 Aug. 2023
Lester has been charged with assault in the first degree and armed criminal action.
—Julianne McShane, NBC News, 28 Aug. 2023
Trump was charged with 13 counts, including violating the state's racketeering act, soliciting a public officer to violate their oath, conspiring to impersonate a public officer, conspiring to commit forgery in the first degree and conspiring to file false documents.
—Compiled By Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 15 Aug. 2023
Chesebro faces seven counts, including two counts of conspiracy to commit forgery in the first degree and two counts of conspiracy to commit false statements and writings.
—Olivia Rubin, ABC News, 6 Sep. 2023
Chesebro stands charged with violating the state's racketeering act, conspiring to commit impersonating a public officer, conspiring to commit filing false document and two counts each of conspiring to commit forgery in the first degree and conspiring to commit false statements and writings.
—Compiled By Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 24 Aug. 2023
Trump himself was charged with more than a dozen felonies, including filing false documents, conspiracy to commit forgery in the first degree and false statements and writings.
—Virginia Chamlee, Peoplemag, 24 Aug. 2023
Trump was charged with 13 counts in the case, including violating state racketeering laws and soliciting a public official to violate his oath of office, conspiring to commit forgery in the first degree, conspiring to file false documents, and making false statements.
—Brian Bennett, Time, 24 Aug. 2023
Jurors convicted Matarazzo, after a 16-day trial, of murder in the first degree with deliberate premeditation and extreme atrocity or cruelty, court records show.
—Tonya Alanez, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Aug. 2023
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Deena Zaru, ABC News, 31 Aug. 2023
Lester has been charged with assault in the first degree and armed criminal action.
—Julianne McShane, NBC News, 28 Aug. 2023
Trump was charged with 13 counts, including violating the state's racketeering act, soliciting a public officer to violate their oath, conspiring to impersonate a public officer, conspiring to commit forgery in the first degree and conspiring to file false documents.
—Compiled By Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 15 Aug. 2023
Chesebro faces seven counts, including two counts of conspiracy to commit forgery in the first degree and two counts of conspiracy to commit false statements and writings.
—Olivia Rubin, ABC News, 6 Sep. 2023
Chesebro stands charged with violating the state's racketeering act, conspiring to commit impersonating a public officer, conspiring to commit filing false document and two counts each of conspiring to commit forgery in the first degree and conspiring to commit false statements and writings.
—Compiled By Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 24 Aug. 2023
Trump himself was charged with more than a dozen felonies, including filing false documents, conspiracy to commit forgery in the first degree and false statements and writings.
—Virginia Chamlee, Peoplemag, 24 Aug. 2023
Trump was charged with 13 counts in the case, including violating state racketeering laws and soliciting a public official to violate his oath of office, conspiring to commit forgery in the first degree, conspiring to file false documents, and making false statements.
—Brian Bennett, Time, 24 Aug. 2023
Jurors convicted Matarazzo, after a 16-day trial, of murder in the first degree with deliberate premeditation and extreme atrocity or cruelty, court records show.
—Tonya Alanez, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'in the first 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
“In the first degree.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20the%20first%20degree. Accessed 29 Sep. 2023.
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