How to Use self-incrimination in a Sentence

self-incrimination

noun
  • The court found that he was denied protection against self-incrimination.
    — Doha Madani, NBC News, 15 June 2023
  • Confronted with this challenge, the system went on a self-incrimination spree.
    — Jeannie Suk Gersen, The New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2023
  • The assault was tweeted, posted, and streamed by the rioters, who engaged in self-incrimination with a wink and a boast.
    — Grace Segers, The New Republic, 10 Oct. 2023
  • So far, three of Biden’s aides have pleaded their Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination.
    — Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 31 July 2025
  • People have the right against self-incrimination and cannot be imprisoned without due process of law (fair procedures and trials).
    — Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Bowles responded by invoking his client’s right against self-incrimination.
    — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 17 Jan. 2024
  • Miranda warnings stem from a landmark case that established rules to safeguard against self-incrimination.
    — Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 15 Dec. 2025
  • The suspect has thus far invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and refused to speak with detectives.
    — Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026
  • The Supreme Court required it to protect the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
    — Charlie Savage, New York Times, 16 May 2024
  • There, the three men invoked their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination in declining to answer questions.
    — Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 25 May 2023
  • When the day of her court appearance arrived, Stiles again refused to testify, again asserting her right against self-incrimination.
    — Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 1 Feb. 2024
  • The privilege, also present in other states, is intended to align with Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination.
    — Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 23 June 2024
  • Chesebro also refused to answer House questions based on his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
    — Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 18 Aug. 2023
  • White invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and declined to testify at Michél’s trial.
    — Paul Duggan, Washington Post, 26 Apr. 2023
  • Without immunity, Gutierrez Reed may still be called to the stand, but would likely assert her right against self-incrimination in response to most questions.
    — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 21 June 2024
  • For some, testifying can be a path to acquittal, but a dangerous one as prosecutors will cross-examine, which may result in self-incrimination.
    — John Diedrich, jsonline.com, 17 Dec. 2025
  • The Fifth Amendment prevents self-incrimination.
    — Joel Thayer, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025
  • In his appeal, Francis pointed to that remark as a violation of his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination.
    — Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026
  • In his 30 minutes on the stand, Guevara invoked his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination more than 80 times.
    — Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2026
  • Martinez invoked her right against self-incrimination during that dramatic absentee ballot trial.
    — Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 3 Aug. 2024
  • The Fifth Amendment guarantees the right of all individuals against self-incrimination.
    — Rose Cuison-Villazor, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2025
  • He has not been charged with a crime but has been unavailable to testify at the seditious conspiracy trial, invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
    — Spencer S. Hsu, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2023
  • Further, the state argued that the trial judge didn’t violate Gable’s due process because Crouse, out of earshot of the jury, had waived any right against self-incrimination and was available to testify.
    — oregonlive, 25 Apr. 2023
  • Patel invoked his 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination during his appearance, Booker said.
    — Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2025
  • With Guevara already pleading the Fifth to avoid self-incrimination, the plaintiffs’ attorneys could pepper him with questions in front of a jury that would hear, over and over, his refusal to answer.
    — Joe Mahr, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
  • In court papers, Farley declined to respond to the allegations, citing his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
    — Meena Duerson, CNN, 15 Sep. 2024
  • While the target of a grand jury can endeavor to present witnesses, including themselves, that generally never happens because of the danger of self-incrimination.
    — John E. Jones Iii, The Conversation, 11 Feb. 2026
  • During his mother’s trial, Judge Matthews did not require him to do so because he was expected to invoke his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
    — Jacey Fortin, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024
  • Their constitutional rights when interacting with law enforcement at the workplace, including their right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures and rights to due process and against self-incrimination.
    — Kathleen Pender, San Francisco Chronicle, 6 Jan. 2026
  • Three other former Biden officials called before the committee invoked their Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination.
    — Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 24 July 2025

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'self-incrimination.' 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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