accomplices

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "accomplices" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to individuals who assist or participate in a crime or wrongdoing alongside another person. Example: "The police arrested the main suspect along with his accomplices who helped him carry out the robbery."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I understand why the Lib Dems feel the imperative to challenge the notion that they are compliant accomplices marching to Conservative tunes.

The Guardian - Opinion

· Did any of the hijackers or their accomplices receive al-Qaida financial support or training at al-Qaida bases in Afghanistan, and was any other government or organisation involved?

The Guardian

In the passage which became contentious, he said: "In their minds, the murderers and accomplices of Germany, and Poland, and Hungary, and so many, many other places didn't do something evil".

The Guardian

Comey said last week: "In their minds, the murderers and accomplices of Germany, and Poland, and Hungary, and so many, many other places didn't do something evil.

The Guardian

Moving to London, he survived by legal and illegal means: posing as an African prince in an expensive jewellers while his accomplices attempted to steal rings (he got caught, receiving three months in a young person's prison), operating a shebeen in a Notting Hill property owned by the slum landlord Peter Rachman, and driving stars such as Count Basie around in his "jazz mobile".

The Guardian

Army commanders who directed the killings, many of whom still retain key positions in government, are shown in the documents to have been eager accomplices.

The Guardian

Obama did it, now the FBI director has done it, and each time it has caused huge offence to a US ally: using language to suggest that Poles were accomplices in the Holocaust.

The Guardian

The request, made through the embassy in Washington, came a week after the US ambassador in Warsaw was summoned to the Polish foreign ministry over remarks made by the FBI director, James Comey, about the Holocaust and "the murderers and accomplices of Germany, and Poland, and Hungary".

The Guardian

This left the lion's share to the owners, their builder accomplices and, naturally, the obliging politicians.

The Guardian

"RELIGIOUS leaders...who hold meetings which take place late at night and break up by day, whereby the people are stirred up and misled under the pretext of cultivating virtue, shall be sentenced, the principal perpetrators to strangulation, and their accomplices to a hundred blows with the long stick, followed by a lifelong banishment to a distance of three thousand li".

The Economist

Especially uncomfortable is the attention of the United States Senate, where a subcommittee headed by Carl Levin has gone after American tax dodgers and their accomplices like a starving hound chasing a fox.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "accomplices", ensure the context clearly establishes the wrongdoing they are associated with to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "accomplices" in situations where the actions are not illegal or morally reprehensible; opt for terms like "collaborators" or "partners" instead.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "accomplices" is that of a plural noun. It refers to multiple individuals who knowingly participate in or assist in the commission of a crime. According to Ludwig, the word is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

16%

Science

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "accomplices" functions as a plural noun used to denote individuals involved in a crime alongside a primary perpetrator. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English, and its prevalence is particularly high in the "News & Media" and "Formal & Business" contexts. While semantically similar alternatives exist, such as "co-conspirators" or "confederates", "accomplices" carries a specific connotation of shared culpability in illegal actions, making it a strong and clear descriptor in appropriate contexts. When writing, remember to avoid overuse in non-criminal settings and to provide clear context to establish the wrongdoing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Co-conspirators

Highlights the planning and agreement aspect of the wrongdoing.

Fellow wrongdoers

A straightforward term highlighting the shared culpability in an act of wrongdoing.

Partners in crime

An idiomatic expression denoting a close association in illegal activities.

Confederates

Emphasizes a shared purpose or alliance in the wrongdoing.

Aiders and abettors

A legal term specifying those who assist or encourage the commission of a crime.

Accessories

Focuses on providing assistance or support to the primary wrongdoer.

Collaborators

Indicates a joint effort in carrying out a task, often with negative connotations in contexts of wrongdoing.

Participants

General term indicating involvement in an activity, applicable when specifying involvement in a crime or misdeed.

Assistants

Highlights the supportive role in the wrongdoing, usually of a more practical nature.

Involved parties

A neutral term specifying individuals that are implicated.

FAQs

How do I correctly use "accomplices" in a sentence?

Use "accomplices" to refer to individuals who knowingly assist in a crime or wrongdoing. For example, "The detective identified the thief and his "accomplices"".

What's the difference between "accomplices" and "accessories"?

"Accomplices" are directly involved in committing the crime, while "accessories" may assist before or after the crime without directly participating in it.

Are there formal synonyms for "accomplices"?

Formal synonyms include "co-conspirators" or "aiders and abettors", often used in legal contexts.

When is it inappropriate to use the word "accomplices"?

It's inappropriate to use "accomplices" when referring to individuals involved in collaborations that are not criminal or unethical; in such cases, use words like "collaborators" or "partners" instead.