ACCUSE Synonyms: 53 Similar and Opposite Words

accuse

verb

ə-ˈkyüz

Definition of accuse

as in to indict

to make a claim of wrongdoing against she was accused of lying on the employment application

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of accuse Iran said the attack left one sailor dead and injured several others, and Tehran accused Kyiv of a hostile act. — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 27 July 2026 Paul has long accused Fauci of covering up the origins of the COVID-19 virus, which Fauci has consistently denied. — Conor Murray, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026 In May 2025, Farmer filed a lawsuit against the US government, accusing the FBI, the US Attorneys’ Offices, and the Department of Justice of negligence for failing to protect her and other victims by ignoring her 1996 FBI report. — Abby Ellin, Vanity Fair, 27 July 2026 Prosecutors accused Kohberger of fatally stabbing four University of Idaho students in November 2022. — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 27 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for accuse

Recent Examples of Synonyms for accuse

Verb

Jason Cloth, a Canadian financier with executive producer credits on dozens of films like Joker, Licorice Pizza and House of Gucci, has been indicted for allegedly defrauding investors out of $100 million.

— Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 29 July 2026
Jimenez was later indicted for assault on a federal officer using a deadly or dangerous weapon.

— Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026

Definition of indict

Verb

Trump’s platform is charging Wall Street traders and investment firms as much as $100,000 for nearly-instant access to the president’s Truth Social posts and any other posts on the platform, according to multiple outlets.

— Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 1 Aug. 2026
Both men are charged with first-degree murder in Furman’s death.

— Barbara Vitello, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of charge

Verb

State and local prosecutors would be able to sue chatbot operators for violating the measures, as well as parents or guardians of children who are harmed by companies that don’t follow them.

— Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 1 Aug. 2026
The film combines animation with live-action footage to explore an unprecedented 1979 legal dispute that saw the rare Palila bird native to Hawaii sue the state to prevent its extinction amidst threats of climate change and fire.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 31 July 2026

Definition of sue

Verb

Maxwell has argued that her conviction violated a 2007 plea deal Epstein made with federal prosecutors in which the government agreed not to prosecute any of his co-conspirators.

— Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 29 July 2026
The amendment also includes a right to due process and protects against being prosecuted twice for the same offense.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 July 2026

Definition of prosecute

Browse Nearby Words

accusations

accuse

accused

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Accuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accuse. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of accuse

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on accuse

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

mitigate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Popular in Wordplay

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes