Complicit

Meaning

Involved in or responsible for wrongdoing; culpably associated with an illegal or unethical act, even if not the primary perpetrator.

Origin / Etymology

Latin complex (partner in crime), from com- (together) + plicare (to fold)

Synonyms

Implicated Culpable Accessory

Antonyms

Innocent Uninvolved

Example Sentence

"The National Human Rights Commission found the state administration complicit in the violence through its failure to intervene despite prior intelligence warnings."

🎯 UPSC Usage

Use in GS2 Governance and GS4 Ethics answers when discussing state accountability, passive complicity in communal violence, or institutional failure. Strong word for Mains answers on human rights, disaster mismanagement, or corruption.

Relevant Subjects