accuse

verb

ac·​cuse ə-ˈkyüz How to pronounce accuse (audio)
accused; accusing
Synonyms of accuse

transitive verb

1
: to charge with a fault or offense : blame
He accused her of being disloyal.
2
: to charge with an offense judicially or by a public process
He was accused of murder.

intransitive verb

: to bring an accusation
accuser
ə-ˈkyü-zər How to pronounce accuse (audio)
noun

Synonyms of accuse

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Examples of accuse in a Sentence

she was accused of lying on the employment application
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Kelli stays strong as Shamea’s last standing soldier, accusing the other women of trusting a known liar. — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 20 July 2026 Over the past several months, Taylor has accused Mortensen in court of stalking and, on one occasion, slamming her head into the dashboard of his truck. — Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 20 July 2026 Magnus accuses Lestat of giving the players in the theatre meaning before absconding with it, and Gabriella responds that the place ran for a century and a half. — Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026 Some Israel critics who have spread conspiracy theories about Jews and the Jewish state are now accusing Rubio of working toward Israeli interests above American interests, and say Israel is pushing his candidacy. — Joseph Strauss, Sun Sentinel, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for accuse

Word History

Etymology

Middle English acusen, accusen, borrowed from Anglo-French accuser, acuser, borrowed from Latin accūsāre "to blame, censure, charge with a crime," from ad- ad- + -cūsāre, verbal derivative of causa "legal case, reason, cause" — more at cause entry 1

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of accuse was in the 13th century

Rhymes for accuse

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Browse Nearby Words

accusatrix
accuse
accused
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Accuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accuse. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

accuse

verb
ac·​cuse ə-ˈkyüz How to pronounce accuse (audio)
accused; accusing
: to blame for wrongdoing : to charge with a fault and especially with a crime
accuser noun
accusingly
-ˈkyü-ziŋ-lē How to pronounce accuse (audio)
adverb

Legal Definition

accuse

verb
ac·​cuse
accused; accusing

transitive verb

: to charge with an offense judicially or by a public process compare indict

intransitive verb

: to make or bring an accusation
accuser noun
Etymology

Latin accusare to find fault with, charge with a crime, from ad to, at + causa legal case, trial

More from Merriam-Webster on accuse

Nglish: Translation of accuse for Spanish Speakers

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