formal accusation
Legally stated blame
A formal accusation is an official charge that someone has committed a crime or serious wrongdoing, typically filed through legal or institutional channels.
Unlike casual blame or suspicion, a formal accusation initiates an official process—such as a criminal indictment, disciplinary hearing, or ethics complaint—that requires a response from the accused.
The grand jury issued a formal accusation of fraud against the company's executives.
- imputationAscribing fault to another
- point the fingerAccuse someone of wrongdoing
- indictmentFormal charge from jury
- arraignmentCharge-reading court session
- chargeCost or accusation
lay blame · criminal charge · press charges · prosecution · assertion · denunciation · complaint · testimony · presentment · culpability · stigma · litigation · deposition · true bill · grievance · summons · evidence · court summons
- criminal chargesarson, burglary, homicide, kidnapping, robbery
- prosecutionprosecutor, district attorney, DA, prosecution, public prosecutors
formal accusationexoneration
Official clearing of blame
dismissal · acquittal · dropped charges · vindication · discharge
formal accusationsuspicion
Sense of unease about motives
rumor · hearsay · speculation · innuendo · hunch
formal accusationexoneration
Official clearing of blame
acquittal · not guilty verdict · vindication · absolution · clearance
formal, form, forms, formed, forming, formality, formalize, formalized, formalizing