accused

[ uh-kyoozd ]

adjective

1. charged with a crime, wrongdoing, fault, etc.:

   the accused boy.

noun

1. Often the accused. a person or persons charged in a court of law with a crime, offense, etc.

accused

/ əˈkjuːzd /

noun

1. the accused
   the accused law the defendant or defendants appearing on a criminal charge

Other Words From

• mis·ac·cused adjective
• self-ac·cused adjective
• un·ac·cused adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of accused¹

First recorded in 1585–95; accuse + -ed ²

Example Sentences

Watching him now being accused of illegal operations will not see them shedding any tears.

From The Daily Beast

The men were accused of reneging on pledges to stop working for the Iraqi government.

From The Daily Beast

Who else would see a former spouse accused of underage sex and call him ‘the greatest man there is’?

From The Daily Beast

Critics accused Foster of giving Duke a payoff to stay out of the race; that was never proven.

From The Daily Beast

Three years ago, Republican Guard soldiers came into the hills and killed a cleric accused of hosting Jundullah fighters.

From The Daily Beast

The blood that accused his friend in his heart, rushed to his face, when he repeated what had been told him.

From Project Gutenberg

The consequence of this quarrel was that, early in 1794, he found himself accused as a ci-devant noble.

From Project Gutenberg

The room was prettily furnished, and Georgie had often accused herself of extravagance.

From Project Gutenberg

The consequence was, the disappointed emissary of these double treasons, immediately accused him of his own crimes.

From Project Gutenberg

I have been accused of showing irreverence towards these barbarous kings and priests.

From Project Gutenberg