red-handed
adverb or adjective
red-hand·ed
ˈred-ˈhan-dəd 
: in the act of committing a crime or misdeed
caught red-handed
Examples of red-handed in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
What’s more, police say that 46-year-old Jose Sanchez took the picture just two weeks after he was caught red-handed at his job, taking a picture up a woman’s skirt.
—
Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2026
Within 40 minutes of me catching you red-handed. Bondi: Red hand — there was no redaction.
—Ray Padilla, Louisville Courier Journal, 12 Feb. 2026
Police say surveillance video caught the thieves red-handed, stealing three Kohl's gift cards worth $25 each, laundry detergent and four winter coats meant for children in need this holiday season.
—CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
Having been caught red-handed, Trump is trying to pretend to have freely disclosed it.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 3 Feb. 2026
Canada caught red-handed in Olympic qualifying sabotage against American athlete.
—FOXNews.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Aggie tries to sneak out, but Erika catches her red-handed.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025
Authors deserve much more from a company that got caught red-handed stealing millions of books.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2025
Many of them were caught red-handed accepting bribes and sentenced to prison.
—Daria Kaleniuk, Foreign Affairs, 3 Sep. 2025
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Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2026
Within 40 minutes of me catching you red-handed. Bondi: Red hand — there was no redaction.
—Ray Padilla, Louisville Courier Journal, 12 Feb. 2026
Police say surveillance video caught the thieves red-handed, stealing three Kohl's gift cards worth $25 each, laundry detergent and four winter coats meant for children in need this holiday season.
—CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
Having been caught red-handed, Trump is trying to pretend to have freely disclosed it.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 3 Feb. 2026
Canada caught red-handed in Olympic qualifying sabotage against American athlete.
—FOXNews.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Aggie tries to sneak out, but Erika catches her red-handed.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025
Authors deserve much more from a company that got caught red-handed stealing millions of books.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2025
Many of them were caught red-handed accepting bribes and sentenced to prison.
—Daria Kaleniuk, Foreign Affairs, 3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Red-handed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/red-handed. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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