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Accusations: meaning, definitions and examples

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accusations

 

[ ˌæk.jʊˈzeɪ.ʃənz ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

legal

Accusations are statements saying that someone has done something morally wrong, illegal, or unkind.

Synonyms

allegations, charges, claims.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
accusations

Used when someone is blamed for doing something wrong, often without proof. Generally used in serious contexts and can imply a formal statement or informal blame.

  • The politician faced numerous accusations of corruption.
  • He made accusations against his colleague without any evidence.
allegations

Used in legal and formal contexts to describe a person being accused of wrongdoing but not yet proven guilty. The word carries a presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

  • The newspaper published allegations of fraud against the company.
  • She denied the allegations and demanded a full investigation.
charges

Used in formal legal contexts where a person is officially accused of a crime. It implies that the accusation is serious and legal proceedings are likely to follow.

  • He faced criminal charges for tax evasion.
  • The police brought charges against the suspect after a lengthy investigation.
claims

Used in general contexts to state that something is true, often without providing evidence or proof. This word may not necessarily imply wrongdoing and can be used in various situations.

  • The scientist made claims about a new discovery.
  • There are claims that the new policy will benefit everyone.

Examples of usage

  • He denied the accusations of corruption.
  • She was shocked by the accusations made against her.
  • The accusations were based on circumstantial evidence.
  • The accusations proved to be unfounded.
  • The police are investigating the accusations.
Context #2 | Noun

general

Accusations can also refer to the act of accusing someone of something.

Synonyms

blame, censure, criticism.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
accusations

Used when someone is officially declaring that another person is responsible for a crime or wrongdoing.

  • He faced accusations of embezzlement
  • She denied the accusations brought against her by the board
blame

Utilized in both formal and informal situations where responsibility for a fault or wrong is being assigned to someone.

  • It's unfair to place all the blame on him
  • Who should we blame for the project's failure?
censure

Typically used in formal contexts to denote a strong expression of disapproval, often by an authoritative body.

  • The senator faced censure from his colleagues for his inappropriate behavior
  • The teacher's censure of the student's actions was severe
criticism

Applied in situations where someone is judged or evaluated, often pointing out faults or shortcomings. This can be used in both positive and negative contexts.

  • Her performance received constructive criticism from the coach
  • He couldn't handle the constant criticism from his peers

Examples of usage

  • His accusations caused a lot of tension in the office.
  • She was tired of the constant accusations from her colleagues.
  • I can't believe the accusations flying around the school.

Translations

Translations of the word "accusations" in other languages:

🇵🇹 acusações

🇮🇳 आरोप

🇩🇪 Anschuldigungen

🇮🇩 tuduhan

🇺🇦 звинувачення

🇵🇱 oskarżenia

🇯🇵 告発

🇫🇷 accusations

🇪🇸 acusaciones

🇹🇷 suçlamalar

🇰🇷 비난

🇸🇦 اتهامات

🇨🇿 obvinění

🇸🇰 obvinenia

🇨🇳 指控

🇸🇮 obtožbe

🇮🇸 ásakanir

🇰🇿 айыптаулар

🇬🇪 ბრალდებები

🇦🇿 ittihamlar

🇲🇽 acusaciones

Etymology

The word 'accusations' dates back to the 14th century, deriving from the Old French word 'accusacion'. It has roots in Latin accusare, meaning 'to call to account'. Accusations have played a significant role in legal systems throughout history, shaping the way justice is served and the rights of individuals are protected.

See also: accusable, accusation, accusatory, accused, accuser.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #10,486, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.