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
She is charged with domestic violence in the first degree and assault in the first degree, police said.
—
Natalie Demaree, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2025
Ultimately Hector is found not guilty of murder in the first degree, second degree, and manslaughter.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
Reilly, a federally licensed firearms dealer, has been charged with assault in the first degree, the criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, and the criminal possession of a firearm, according to police.
—Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 7 May 2025
Reilly was charged with three felonies, including assault in the first degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, and criminal possession of a firearm, the New York State Police said.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 6 May 2025
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Natalie Demaree, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2025
Ultimately Hector is found not guilty of murder in the first degree, second degree, and manslaughter.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
Reilly, a federally licensed firearms dealer, has been charged with assault in the first degree, the criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, and the criminal possession of a firearm, according to police.
—Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 7 May 2025
Reilly was charged with three felonies, including assault in the first degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, and criminal possession of a firearm, the New York State Police said.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for in the first degree
Cite this Entry
“In the first degree.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20the%20first%20degree. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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