accuse
Charge with wrongdoing
To accuse is to claim that someone has done something wrong or committed a crime: She accused him of stealing her idea, The senator stands accused of corruption.
The word implies a direct charge, not mere suspicion.
An accusation may be formal (in legal proceedings) or informal (in personal disputes).
The accused is the person charged.
Declare confidently true
- claimStatement of ownership or truth
- insinuateSuggest without directly stating
- implyIndicate without stating
- suggestOffer an idea indirectly
declare · contend · maintain · allegation · purport · intimate · hint · suspect
Imperfection or blame
- culpabilityDeserving blame for wrongdoing
- responsibilityState of being answerable
- scapegoatUnfairly blamed person
- finger-pointingAssigning blame openly
incriminate · impute · reproach · condemn · denounce · criticize · censure · discredit
Formal charge from jury
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- arraignmentCharge-reading court session
- defendantParty facing charges
- plaintiffCivil case initiator
testimony · witness · evidence · verdict · trial · courtroom · subpoena · pleading
Harm reputation falsely
- vilifyAttack someone's reputation
- malignAttack someone's reputation
- smearSpread or defame
- slanderSpoken false defamation
libel · mudslinging · frame · witch hunt · character assassination · trumped-up · baseless · unfounded
Head's anterior surface
- challengeTest of ability
- call outPublicly confront or summon
- questionRequest for information
- interrogateQuestion formally and persistently
cross-examine · grill · corner · put on the spot · hold accountable · take to task
assert
Declare confidently true
- claimStatement of ownership or truth
- insinuateSuggest without directly stating
- implyIndicate without stating
suggest · declare · contend · maintain · allegation · purport · intimate · hint · suspect · complainant
fault
Imperfection or blame
- culpabilityDeserving blame for wrongdoing
- responsibilityState of being answerable
- scapegoatUnfairly blamed person
finger-pointing · incriminate · impute · reproach · condemn · denounce · criticize · censure · discredit · impugn
indictment
Formal charge from jury
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- arraignmentCharge-reading court session
- defendantParty facing charges
plaintiff · testimony · witness · evidence · verdict · trial · courtroom · subpoena · pleading · cross-examination
defame
Harm reputation falsely
slander · libel · mudslinging · frame · witch hunt · character assassination · trumped-up · baseless · unfounded · spurious
face
Head's anterior surface
interrogate · cross-examine · grill · corner · put on the spot · hold accountable · take to task
- accusationsallegation, allege, blame, charge, claim
- scoldingscold, scolding, rebuke, berate, reprimand
- Among Usimpostor, crewmate, sus, vent, emergency meeting
- confrontationsargue, fight, clash, quarrel, dispute
- game movesmove, dodge, play, pass, block
- betrayalbackstab, betray, betrayal, traitor, backstabber
- false accusationsUntrue claims of wrongdoing
- The AccusedPerson formally charged
- accused witches
- wrongful accusationUnfounded claim of guilt
- formal accusationOfficial criminal charge filed
- criminal accusationFormal charge of crime
accused, accusation, accuser, accusing, accuses, accusations, accusatory, accusers, accusable