accusation

noun

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ac·cu·sa·tion | \ ˌa-kyə-ˈzā-shən

, -(ˌ)kyü- \

Definition of accusation

1 : a charge of wrongdoing The evidence confirms the accusations made against him. She denied the accusation.

2 : the act of accusing someone : the state or fact of being accused

Examples of accusation in a Sentence

Investigators have made accusations of corruption against a group of former officials. The police are investigating serious accusations of wrongdoing. He denied the accusation that he had lied to the police. There was a hint of accusation in his voice when he asked her where she had been.

Recent Examples on the Web An accusation of stupidity defines the average joke. — Tobias Grey, WSJ, "Martin Amis Writes His ‘Last Long Novel’," 21 Oct. 2020 What doomed Lawrence, in the long run, was not an accusation of phallocentrism but his elevation to the canon. — Frances Wilson, The New Yorker, "The D. H. Lawrence We Forgot," 8 Oct. 2020 The letter does not offer specifics but nonetheless stands as a remarkable accusation of criminal wrongdoing against the state's top law enforcement officer by his own staff, including some longtime supporters of his conservative Christian politics. — CBS News, "Texas attorney general accused by top deputies of bribery and abuse of office," 5 Oct. 2020 The letter does not offer specifics but nonetheless stands as a remarkable accusation of criminal wrongdoing against the state's top law enforcement officer by his own staff, including some longtime supporters of his conservative Christian politics. — Jake Bleiberg, Star Tribune, "Letter: Top deputies accuse Texas attorney general of crimes," 4 Oct. 2020 That accusation of radically traditional dogma, which Barrett has repeatedly denied influences her jurisprudence, has, by extension, been cast upon People of Praise because of her involvement in the group. — Nicholas Rowan, Washington Examiner, "Four myths about the People of Praise, explained," 30 Sep. 2020 Over the centuries the accusation of ritual murder became more baroque and more codified. — Talia Lavin, The New Republic, "QAnon, Blood Libel, and the Satanic Panic," 29 Sep. 2020 So far in 2018, proxy soldiers of both nations have clashed in Syria, the U.S. has expelled Russian diplomats from American soil under accusation of spying, and suspicions of Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election have intensified. — Joe Pappalardo, Popular Mechanics, "How a Russian Rocket Launch Failed Spectacularly In Just 118 Seconds," 3 Sep. 2020 The assailant allegedly continued in harassing the victim after the accusation of rape had been made to the school. — Sam Blum, Dallas News, "SMU football player accused of rape in federal court lawsuit that alleges insufficient Title IX investigation," 31 Aug. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'accusation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near accusation

accusations are flying

accusatival

accusative

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Last Updated

24 Oct 2020

Cite this Entry

“Accusation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accusation. Accessed 24 Oct. 2020.

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More Definitions for accusation

accusation

noun

English Language Learners Definition of accusation

: a claim that someone has done something wrong or illegal : a charge that someone has committed a fault or crime

See the full definition for accusation in the English Language Learners Dictionary

accusation

noun

ac·cu·sa·tion | \ ˌa-kyə-ˈzā-shən

Kids Definition of accusation

: a claim that someone has done something bad or illegal

accusation

noun

ac·cu·sa·tion | \ ˌa-kyə-ˈzā-shən

Legal Definition of accusation

1 : a formal charge of wrongdoing, delinquency, or fault the accused shall enjoy the right…to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation — U.S. Constitution amend. VI — compare allegation, indictment, information

2 : the offense or fault of which one is accused the accusation was murder

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