accused 1 of 3

adjective

Definition of accusednext
as in indicted

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accused

2 of 3

noun

as in defendant

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Dissimilar Words

accused

3 of 3

verb

past tense of accuse
as in charged
to make a claim of wrongdoing against she was accused of lying on the employment application

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 accused
Verb
Kagame has led the country for decades, and his government has long been accused of abuses over its treatment of political opponents, journalists and other critics. — Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2026 Cedric Von Ferdinand, 34, is accused of killing Nadine Jett and burying her remains in her Oak Creek Road property, San Diego County Dist. — Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026 The student accused of rape could not be reached for comment, but Alpha Delta Phi said he has been suspended from the fraternity, according to Steve Ehrfurth, executive director of the national organization. — Lila Hempel-Edgers, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026 Hubbard was imprisoned in Russia for more than four years after being accused of fighting for Ukraine. — Mark Osborne, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026 The court said the report was illegally leaked and improperly accused people of criminal behavior without an indictment. — Liv Caputo Herald, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026 Closing arguments are scheduled for Thursday in the trial of a man accused of killing a North Carolina college student 14 years ago. — ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026 The Republican billionaire accused of fueling an infestation of rats in Chicago. — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026 In more recent times, moreover, the first steps taken by the Third Reich toward the Holocaust began with the economic boycott of the Jews, who were accused of harming the businesses and positions of their Aryan counterparts. — Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for accused
  1. indicted
  2. defendant
  3. charged
  4. culpable
  5. suspect
  6. blamed
  7. guilty
  8. offender
Adjective
  • Jim Trusty, the lawyer for Rozier, excoriated the league after a hearing Wednesday that served as a status update on Rozier’s case, as well as the other three defendants who remain indicted alongside him.
    — Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 11 June 2026
  • The conservative-leaning New York Post has also reported Wahhaj was listed as an un-indicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
    — Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
Definition of indicted
Noun
  • Castillo is suing Torchy's Tacos and Success Foods Management Group, which does business as Torchy's Tacos, alleging that the defendants failed to properly prepare, inspect and distribute the food before selling it to customers.
    — Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The lawsuit names RentCafe and its partner, Yardi Systems, as defendants, along with the Pennrose Management Company, which owns and manages hundreds of low-income rental units in the city.
    — Renee Anderson, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of defendant
Verb
  • Most of the immigrants charged in California have lived in the country for at least five years, and some of them for decades.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Arthur and her daughter have not had contact since 1978, when Arthur’s second husband, Cledith Arthur, was indicted and charged with raping his 12-year-old stepdaughter.
    — Teo Armus, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of charged
Adjective
  • General manager Les Snead is also culpable for this mess of a season, trading for Myles Garrett, who has done absolutely zero for this team.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
  • At Wednesday’s hearing, Paul described Niembro as the most culpable of the four defendants and Ramirez as second, while acknowledging that Ramirez’s cooperation justified a significantly shorter sentence.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of culpable
Noun
  • The 33-year-old suspect is a German citizen who showed signs of mental illness and was taken to a psychiatric facility, authorities said.
    — Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Details of a suspect and motive in the case have not been released.
    — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of suspect
Verb
  • In his statement, Dan also blamed Russia for a spate of attacks in recent weeks on civilian maritime transport in the Black Sea, which has left at least three people dead and has raised fears of an escalation in Russia's war against Ukraine.
    — STEPHEN McGRATH, Arkansas Online, 28 Oct. 2026
  • In response, Citation once again blamed the pollution on old drilling practices, according to an email from one of the company’s engineers to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.
    — Nick Bowlin, ProPublica, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of blamed
Adjective
  • Two minors were victims On March 9, a 12-person jury found the brothers guilty on all 10 counts, some of which applied to multiple brothers, and some were individual charges.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Ford agreed to plead guilty to a single misdemeanor tax count in exchange for federal prosecutors dropping all 17 felony charges.
    — Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of guilty
Noun
  • His lacerating wit spares no member of his staff—a mix of true incompetents, off-putting savants, ticking time bombs, and onetime offenders prematurely consigned to professional purgatory.
    — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Penalties increase if offenders cover their faces or someone is injured.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of offender

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Cite this Entry

“Accused.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accused. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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