Dictionary.com
definitions
  • synonyms

accuse

[uh-kyooz]
verb (used with object), ac·cused, ac·cus·ing.
  1. to charge with the fault, offense, or crime (usually followed by of): He accused him of murder.
  2. to find fault with; blame.
Show More
verb (used without object), ac·cused, ac·cus·ing.
  1. to make an accusation.
Show More

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

1. arraign, indict; incriminate, impeach.

Antonyms for accuse

1, 2. exonerate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for accusingly

Historical Examples of accusingly

  • Mary came out of her office and stopped before Trudy accusingly.

    The Gorgeous Girl

    Nalbro Bartley

  • Brother,” the parson answered, accusingly, “it is in the Bible; it must be true.

  • You might be in better business than accusingly a poor boy falsely.

    The Cash Boy

    Horatio Alger Jr.

  • "And you said they were so hard-boiled," Doris said accusingly to Sam, nodding at the twins.

    Masters of Space

    Edward Elmer Smith

  • His unsmiling eyes are looking somberly, sternly, accusingly into hers.

    Wayside Courtships

    Hamlin Garland

British Dictionary definitions for accusingly

accuse

verb
  1. to charge (a person or persons) with some fault, offence, crime, etc; impute guilt or blame
Show More
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 accusingly

accuse

v.

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.

Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper