Accusation — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˌa-kyə-ˈzā-shən/ ac·cu·sa·tion

Meaning & Definition of Accusation

Accusation (noun)

  1. a charge of wrongdoing
  2. the act of accusing someone, the state or fact of being accused

Accusation (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a claim that someone has done something wrong or illegal; a charge that someone has committed a fault or crime

    "Investigators have leveled accusations of corruption against a group of former officials."

    "The police are investigating serious accusations of wrongdoing."

    similar: censure, condemnation, denunciation, finger-pointing, reproach, blame, culpability, fault, guilt, onus, rap, allegation, plea, blameworthiness, complicity, guiltiness, sinfulness
    opposite: blamelessness, faultlessness, guiltlessness, innocence

Related Entry: Self-accusation (noun)

Self-accusation is a different word from Accusation. The synonyms below are for self-accusation, not for accusation.

  1. as in self-revelation, self-betrayal

    similar: self-betrayal, self-revelation, acknowledgment, admission, avowal, concession, confession, self-confession, self-incrimination, self-recrimination, self-reproach, affirmation, assertion, avouchment, claim, confirmation, declaration, insistence, profession, allowance, apology, hand-wringing, betrayal, disclosure, divulgence, giveaway, revelation, announcement, proclamation, pronouncement, blame, fault, responsibility, contriteness, contrition, penitence, regret, remorse, remorsefulness, repentance, rue
    opposite: disavowal, nonadmission, denial, disallowance, disclaimer, recantation, rejection, renouncement, repudiation

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Accusation

The most common words with a similar meaning to Accusation:

censure, condemnation, denunciation, finger-pointing, reproach, blame, culpability, fault, guilt, onus, rap, allegation, plea, blameworthiness, complicity, guiltiness, sinfulness

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Accusation

Words with the opposite meaning of Accusation:

blamelessness, faultlessness, guiltlessness, innocence

Origin & Etymology of Accusation

Middle English accusacioun, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin accūsātiōn-, accūsātiō, from accūsāre "to blame, charge with a crime" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns accuse

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Accusation

Words & Phrases Containing Accusation

self-accusation, counteraccusation

Frequently Asked Questions about Accusation

What does "Accusation" mean?

"Accusation" means a charge of wrongdoing. As a noun, it is defined as: a charge of wrongdoing.

What is another word for "Accusation"?

Other words for "Accusation" include censure, condemnation, denunciation, finger-pointing, reproach, blame, culpability and fault. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Accusation" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Accusation"?

There are 17 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Accusation". Common alternatives include censure, condemnation, denunciation, finger-pointing, reproach, blame, culpability, fault, guilt and onus.

What is the opposite of "Accusation"?

Antonyms of "Accusation" include blamelessness, faultlessness, guiltlessness and innocence.

How do you use "Accusation" in a sentence?

Examples of "Accusation" in a sentence: "Investigators have leveled accusations of corruption against a group of former officials."; "The police are investigating serious accusations of wrongdoing.".

Is "Accusation" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Accusation" is a noun.

Is "Accusation" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Accusation" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Accusation"?

"Accusation" is pronounced /ˌa-kyə-ˈzā-shən/ and divided into syllables as ac·cu·sa·tion.