allege
State without evidence
To allege is to claim something is true, typically without proof or before proof has been established.
The word carries a note of skepticism—an alleged crime is one that hasn't been proven in court: The senator allegedly accepted bribes.
Allege often appears in legal and journalistic contexts where accusations must be reported without presuming guilt.
She alleged that her employer had discriminated against her.
Statement of ownership or truth
- assertDeclare confidently true
- maintainKeep in condition
- contendStruggle in opposition
- declareState officially
state · affirm · insist · avow · aver · profess · hold · argue
Claim someone did wrong
- chargeCost or accusation
- blameAssign responsibility for wrongdoing
- implicateSuggest involvement in wrongdoing
- incriminateShow involvement in wrongdoing
indict · denounce · arraign · impeach · defame · slander · libel · vilify
Not yet established
- unsubstantiatedWithout supporting evidence
- unconfirmedNot officially validated
- purportedClaimed without proof
- supposedAssumed to be true
claimed · reported · rumored · speculated · suspected · so-called · ostensible · putative
Sworn statement as evidence
- plaintiffCivil case initiator
- defendantParty facing charges
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- defenseProtection against harm
evidence · indictment · affidavit · deposition · pleading · litigation · trial · courtroom
claim
Statement of ownership or truth
declare · state · affirm · insist · avow · aver · profess · hold · argue · submit
accuse
Claim someone did wrong
- chargeCost or accusation
- blameAssign responsibility for wrongdoing
- implicateSuggest involvement in wrongdoing
incriminate · indict · denounce · arraign · impeach · defame · slander · libel · vilify · discredit
unproven
Not yet established
- unsubstantiatedWithout supporting evidence
- unconfirmedNot officially validated
- purportedClaimed without proof
supposed · claimed · reported · rumored · speculated · suspected · so-called · ostensible · putative · questionable
testimony
Sworn statement as evidence
- plaintiffCivil case initiator
- defendantParty facing charges
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
defense · evidence · indictment · affidavit · deposition · pleading · litigation · trial · courtroom · witness
- accusationsaccusation, accuse, accuser, blame, charge
- assertionsassertions, asserting, assert, statements, stating
- legal termstrial, legal, appeal, lawsuit, law
allegeconfirm
Validate as true
prove · verify · demonstrate · establish · substantiate
- false allegationsUntrue formal accusations
- literary allegorySymbolic story representing ideas
- abuse allegationsFormal claims of wrongdoing
- allegory of the caveParable about mistaking illusions for reality
- religious allegorySymbolic tale conveying faith
- political allegoryStory symbolizing governmental themes
malleable, allegory, alleged, allegation, allegorical, alleging, alleges, allegations, allegorically