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
Dhillon has drawn fierce criticism from former Justice Department attorneys who have accused her of abandoning the division's traditional civil rights enforcement mission in favor of conservative causes. — Arkansas Online, 6 Nov. 2026 However, the appointment has received flak, as comments James made about the case before she was tapped to lead the investigation have drawn accusations of bias from lawyers of the seven men accused. — Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 6 Nov. 2026 The Likud party, in response, accused Baharav-Miara of obstructing the investigation. — Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2026 Four others also accused by police of involvement in the case were taken into custody along with Townsend. — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026 The New Republic reported that last month during a speech at a Wichita church, Masterson accused Holscher of being a witch. — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 5 Nov. 2026 Several House Democrats have accused Wright of giving false testimony, an allegation the Energy Department has denied. — Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026 Lopes is one of seven former Chi Phi fraternity brothers who are accused in a lawsuit of drugging and raping a female Cornell student at their fraternity house in October 2024. — Kelsie Cairns , Maria Paronich, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2026 So how has Flavio Bolsonaro, a Brazilian immigrant who has been accused of corruption and money laundering and who violated a court order to surrender his passport, been welcomed to America? — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 29 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
  • The defendant’s attorney asked for the hearing for the judge to listen to arguments and determine whether to set bail for Guzman.
    — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Separately, two men named as defendants in the former student’s lawsuit want the attorney general removed from the investigation.
    — Michael R. Sisak, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of defendant
Verb
  • King’s trial, on an indictment in which the sheriff was charged with corrupt influence retaliation, unfolded over about two and a half weeks.
    — Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Oct. 2026
  • Orange County prosecutors also charged Nguyen with animal cruelty and animal abuse by a caretaker, both felonies, and a sentencing enhancement alleging the personal use of a weapon.
    — Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 31 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
  • Police have not identified a suspect, and no arrests have been announced.
    — Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Officers arrested a suspect and seized two weapons after windows were broken at a gun shop.
    — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of suspect
Verb
  • Rodolfo Friedmann, a party vice president, called for Peña's expulsion, while Senate President Basilio Núñez defended the president and blamed the central bank instead.
    — EMILIO SANABRIA, Arkansas Online, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Lawson said Amendment 3 outperformed a nationwide shift to the left, and blamed the loss on out-of-state donors contributing to the opposition.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of blamed
Adjective
  • But in 2014, prosecutors agreed to drop all 17 felony charges against Ford in exchange for his guilty plea to a single misdemeanor tax count.
    — Gregory Royal Pratt, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The statutory maximum is life in prison, Lett informed Désir, should he be found guilty.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of guilty
Noun
  • One of the key differences between this new ordinance and the previous two is the fine is steeper for first- and second-time offenders, which was a request from City Council.
    — Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 27 Oct. 2026
  • That feeling of closure was shattered last week when her attacker was paroled under a controversial law that makes nonviolent offenders eligible for early release.
    — Doha Madani, NBC news, 26 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 6 Nov. 2026.

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