accuse

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "accuse" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a verb which means to make a charge or claim that someone has done something wrong or illegal. An example sentence is "The police accused him of breaking the window."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Hence neither the Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, nor Romania's Victor Ponta are right to accuse Brussels of euro-colonialism.

The Guardian - Opinion

They accuse the mainstream republicans of staging a grossly insensitive march which they say denigrates and insults the memories of those murdered in the conflict by the IRA.

The Guardian

But with the current licence fee settlement due to come under review in the next parliament, the broadcaster has come under fire from Conservatives who accuse it of a liberal bias.

The Guardian

Hunt was also expected to accuse Gove of choosing not to act, despite being forewarned in 2010.

The Guardian

He used parliamentary question time to accuse the Labor leader, Bill Shorten, of going off the point.

The Guardian - Opinion

I've overheard conversations at academic gatherings in which female colleagues have been described as "power-dressing" – coded language used to accuse a woman of asserting herself in overly-ambitious ways.

The Guardian

Drama over the landmark trade negotiations has been escalating for weeks, propelling Obama into a public feud with Democrats – going so far as to accuse opposing members within his party of lying about the fast-track bill.

The Guardian

The decision of so many refugees to return home has been attributed to the success of the Burundian peace process, but the voluntary nature of these returns has been questioned by observers who accuse the government of deliberately eroding the remaining refugees' quality of life in order to indirectly force them to return.

The Guardian

"But before any of this can be done, people and authorities need to admit that it's happening, and not automatically accuse victims of having drunk too much and lost control".

The Guardian

One day Jonathan's people would accuse Buhari, a Muslim, of wanting to introduce strict Sharia law throughout Nigeria, the next they'd insist he wants to legalise same-sex marriage.

The Guardian - Opinion

Appearing alongside Gove at the Policy Exchange event, Hunt was expected to accuse the education secretary of "gross negligence" for failing to ensure local oversight of schools to ensure their study programme was "broad and balanced".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "accuse", ensure you have a credible basis for the accusation, as unsubstantiated accusations can lead to legal repercussions.

Common error

Avoid using "accuse" loosely without any supporting evidence. Instead of saying "He accused her of lying", specify the basis for the accusation, such as "He accused her of lying based on inconsistencies in her statements".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "accuse" is as a transitive verb. It requires a direct object, indicating who is being accused. Ludwig confirms its usability in various sentence structures.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "accuse" is a versatile transitive verb frequently employed in News & Media contexts, as confirmed by Ludwig. It serves to attribute blame or wrongdoing, and its usage spans formal legal settings to more informal news reporting. While grammatically straightforward, ensure accusations are substantiated to avoid legal issues. Alternatives such as "charge with" or "allege" offer nuances in formality and implication. Remember to use "accuse of" and not "accuse for". While the term is deemed correct, responsible usage is always paramount.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

charge with

More formal and often used in legal contexts.

blame for

A more general term for attributing responsibility for something negative.

allege

Suggests wrongdoing without proof.

implicate in

Suggests involvement in something negative, often a crime.

point the finger at

An idiomatic expression for directing blame.

denounce

Publicly condemn.

criticize for

Express disapproval of someone or something based on perceived faults or mistakes.

hold accountable for

To consider someone responsible.

criminate

Involve someone in an accusation.

lay the blame on

Assign responsibility, typically for something considered bad or wrong.

FAQs

How to use "accuse" in a sentence?

You can use "accuse" to indicate that someone is claiming another person has done something wrong. For example, "The prosecutor will accuse the defendant of fraud".

What can I say instead of "accuse"?

You can use alternatives like "charge with", "blame for", or "allege" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "accuse of" or "accuse for"?

"Accuse of" is the correct usage. For example, "He accused her of theft" is correct, while "He accused her for theft" is incorrect.

What's the difference between "accuse" and "allege"?

"Accuse" implies a more formal charge, often in a legal setting, while "allege" suggests a claim without proof. When you "allege", you are stating something may have happened, but it hasn't been proven.