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accusatorial
[ uh-kyoo-zuh-tawr-ee-uhl, -tohr- ]
accusatorial
/ ˌækjʊˈzeɪtərɪ; əˈkjuːzətərɪ; -trɪ; əˌkjuːzəˈtɔːrɪəl /
adjective
- containing or implying blame or strong criticism
- law denoting criminal procedure in which the prosecutor is distinct from the judge and the trial is conducted in public Compare inquisitorial
Other Words From
- ac·cusa·tori·al·ly adverb
Word History and Origins
Origin of accusatorial1
Example Sentences
Some have assumed she meant it accusatorially: I must be a Christian, and that is why I won’t raise my hand.
Predator behavior is ingrained in society and all accusatorial instances need to be viewed through this prism.
“What is his tweet about then?” she demanded, accusatorially.
Instead, the entire country would move to a so-called accusatorial system, in which prosecutors and defense lawyers presented their evidence in public.
The reserved statements from lawmakers who over the past weeks withheld at least some judgment on the expanding probes seemed to give way Sunday to a much more accusatorial posture.
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More About Accusatorial
What does accusatorial mean?
Accusatorial is used to describe people to imply that they are making an accusation—a claim that someone is guilty of a crime or offense.
It can also mean implying blame or strong criticism.
The similar word accusatory can be used interchangeably. But whereas accusatorial is perhaps more often applied to people, accusatory is commonly used to describe things that contain or suggest an accusation. An accusatory statement is usually one that directly claims that someone did something wrong. When someone says something in an accusatory tone, it suggests that they are accusing someone of something—even if the statement doesn’t contain a direct accusation.
Example: I don’t mean to be accusatorial—I was just making an observation.
Where does accusatorial come from?
The first records of the word accusatorial in English come from around the 1800s. Its base word, accuse, ultimately derives from the Latin accūsāre, meaning “to call to account,” from causa, “lawsuit.”
When you make an accusation, you are being accusatorial. The word is often used in a way that criticizes a person for doing so, such as when they don’t have anything to back up their accusation. An accusatory statement contains an accusation or it implies blame for something. The word accusation is often used in a legal context, and the word accusatorial can be used in this way or in everyday conversation.
Did you know ... ?
What are some other forms related to accusatorial?
- accusatorially (adverb)
- accuse (verb)
What are some synonyms for accusatorial?
What are some words that share a root or word element with accusatorial?
What are some words that often get used in discussing accusatorial?
How is accusatorial used in real life?
Accusatorial is usually used to describe people making accusations, but it can also be used to describe the things people say and the way they say them.
Heard that from someone, want to know if others picked up on it. Not being accusatorial, we all make mistakes, just curious
— John Strong (@JohnStrong) March 8, 2012
Anyone who works in this office will confirm that I can say "charlie-uniform-november-lima-inda-foxtrot-foxtrot-echo" as one word in 2 seconds flat. Cue an accusatorial over-the-phone "you've spelt that out before". As if I practise it on purpose.
— Rachel Cunliffe (@RMCunliffe) August 30, 2018
Nope. It just explains the classification system used when people call it ‘probably carcinogenic’.
If some people get all accusatorial when scientists explain the terms they are using, one does have to wonder why?
— James Wong (@Botanygeek) October 1, 2019
Try using accusatorial!
Is accusatorial used correctly in the following sentence?
Most of the people responding to the post are being accusatorial instead of trying to be constructive.
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