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

Barry Morphew was indicted by a grand jury on charges of murder in the first degree after deliberation on June 20 in relation to the death of his wife, 49-year-old Suzanne Morphew, who was also the mother to two daughters. —Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 6 July 2025

The charges included one count of malice murder and one count of felony murder; three counts of cruelty to children in the first degree; three counts of false imprisonment; three counts of contributing to the dependency of a minor; and three counts of kidnapping. —Rachel Raposas, People.com, 19 June 2025

In August 2012, jurors found White guilty of murder and robbery in the first degree. —Doc Louallen, ABC News, 7 Feb. 2025

One verdict is already declared in the Karen Read murder case: The Massachusetts State Police are guilty in the first degree of dereliction of duty. —Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 17 June 2025

Rhymes for in the first degree

• actuary
• antiquary
• bolsheviki
• calliope
• chelicerae
• covenantee
• cruciferae
• diastole
• distributee
• hyperbole
• interviewee
• origami