accuse

[ uh-kyooz ]

See synonyms for accuse on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),ac·cused, ac·cus·ing.

to charge with the fault, offense, or crime (usually followed by of): He accused him of murder.
to find fault with; blame.

verb (used without object),ac·cused, ac·cus·ing.

to make an accusation.

Origin of accuse

1250–1300; Middle English ac(c)usen<Old French acuser<Latin accūsāre to call to account (ac-ac- + -cūs-, combining form of caus-;see cause)

Other words for accuse

1	arraign, indict; incriminate, impeach

See synonyms for accuse on Thesaurus.com

Opposites for accuse

1, 2

exonerate

See antonyms for accuse on Thesaurus.com

Other words from accuse

ac·cus·a·ble, adjective
ac·cus·a·bly, adverb
ac·cus·ant, noun
ac·cus·ing·ly, adverb
in·ter·ac·cuse, verb (used with object), in·ter·ac·cused, in·ter·ac·cus·ing.
non·ac·cus·ing, adjective
pre·ac·cuse, verb (used with object), pre·ac·cused, pre·ac·cus·ing.
re·ac·cuse, verb (used with object), re·ac·cused, re·ac·cus·ing.
self-ac·cus·ing, adjective
un·ac·cus·a·ble, adjective
un·ac·cus·ing, adjective
un·ac·cus·ing·ly, adverb

Words that may be confused with accuse

accuse , allege, charge

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use accuse in a sentence

Instead, Clohessy accuses Cardinal George and dozens of his clerical colleagues of opting to put their own reputations first.
Chicago Priests Raped and Pillaged for 50 Years | Barbie Latza Nadeau | November 7, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The financial system is awash with money, yet the Federal Reserve accuses both consumers and institutions of hoarding it.
How Young People Are Destroying Liberty | James Poulos | October 11, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Grimes accuses Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of failing to stop the government from its “war on coal.”
Obama’s New Emissions Rules Will Yank the Climate Change Debate Back Into Reality | Sally Kohn | June 2, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Sunai accuses the military of “grab[bing] power with very lame justification.”
Thailand’s Non-Coup Coup | Lennox Samuels | May 21, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
And when she accuses him of not loving her, he gets mad—not funny mad but really mad.
New York’s Greatest Show Or How They Did Not Screw Up ‘Guys and Dolls’ | Ross Wetzsteon | April 6, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST

He accuses the latter of various illegal and crafty acts, among them sending contraband gold and jewels to Mexico.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624 | Various
It is the Book of Howth which accuses Sidney of being a ‘lusty feeder and surfeiter.’
Ireland Under the Tudors, Vol. II (of 3) | Richard Bagwell
"No one accuses you of overcharging," explained Mr. McKenna.
Mr. Dooley in Peace and in War | Finley Peter Dunne
He accuses him of being in a plot to get possession of my person and of my wealth.
The Rose of Old St. Louis | Mary Dillon
He was sedate and dignified and cheerful; though Bossuet accuses him of a surly disposition,--un genre triste, un esprit chagrin.
Beacon Lights of History, Volume VI | John Lord

British Dictionary definitions for accuse

accuse

/ (əˈkjuːz) /

verb

to charge (a person or persons) with some fault, offence, crime, etc; impute guilt or blame

Origin of accuse

C13: via Old French from Latin accūsāre to call to account, from ad- to + causa lawsuit

Derived forms of accuse

accuser, noun
accusing, adjective
accusingly, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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