accuse

[uh-kyooz]

SEE MORE 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.

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)

Related formsac·cus·a·ble, adjectiveac·cus·a·bly, adverbac·cus·ant, nounac·cus·ing·ly, adverbin·ter·ac·cuse, verb (used with object), in·ter·ac·cused, in·ter·ac·cus·ing.non·ac·cus·ing, adjectivepre·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, adjectiveun·ac·cus·a·ble, adjectiveun·ac·cus·ing, adjectiveun·ac·cus·ing·ly, adverb

Can be confusedaccuse allege charge

Synonyms for accuse

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR accuse ON THESAURUS.COM

1. arraign, indict; incriminate, impeach.

Antonyms for accuse

1, 2. exonerate.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for accusing

prosecute, sue, name, brand, summon, denounce, cite, blame, arrest, charge, indict, attack, arraign, implicate, allege, complain, litigate, apprehend, attribute, frame

Examples from the Web for accusing

Contemporary Examples of accusing

Accusing his opponents of being locked in a Cold War mind-set, it is Stone who is beholden to old orthodoxies.
Oliver Stone’s Latest Dictator Suckup
James Kirchick
January 5, 2015
Because especially my sister is not capable of doing the stuff that he is accusing her of doing.
Beaten By His Church for Being Gay
Justin Jones
December 16, 2014
He begins drinking heavily, neglecting his family, and accusing his wife of having an affair.
Ethan Hawke's 'Good Kill': A Searing Indictment of America's Drone Warfare Obsession
Marlow Stern
September 6, 2014
She began it, fangs on display, by accusing Carole Radziwill of not writing her books herself.
‘The Real Housewives of New York City’ Loses a Leg in Sixth-Season Finale
Tim Teeman
July 23, 2014
Ernst responded by accusing Braley of sexism because his ad, which featured a baby bird not making a peep, had a “chick” in it.
The Bruce Braley-Joni Ernst Race Is Iowa’s Ugliest Senate Campaign Ever
Ben Jacobs
July 22, 2014

Historical Examples of accusing

I have been accused of taking it, but have denied it, accusing no one.
Thoroughbreds
W. A. Fraser
The accusing revelation that had come from Crane in the afternoon had been a crushing blow.
Thoroughbreds
W. A. Fraser
This was clearly an accident, and no one thought of accusing me of any connection with it.
Ned Myers
James Fenimore Cooper
Adams very innocently answered, "Sir, I am far from accusing you."
Joseph Andrews Vol. 1
Henry Fielding
He blamed himself so much, that, instead of accusing, I began to comfort him.
Tales And Novels, Volume 9 (of 10)
Maria Edgeworth

British Dictionary definitions for accusing

accuse

verb

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

Derived Formsaccuser, nounaccusing, adjectiveaccusingly, adverb

Word Origin for accuse

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

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

Word Origin and History for accusing

accuse

c.1300, "charge (with an offense, etc.), impugn, blame," from Old French acuser "to accuse, indict, reproach, blame" (13c.), earlier "announce, report, disclose" (12c.), or directly from Latin accusare "to call to account," from ad- "against" (see ad-) + causari "give as a cause or motive," from causa "reason" (see cause (n.)). Related: Accused; accusing; accusingly.