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Synonyms

accuser

American  
[uh-kyoo-zer] / əˈkyu zər /

noun

  1. a person who accuses, especially in a court of law.

    a trial in which the accuser and accused may freely speak.


Usage

What does accuser mean? An accuser is someone who accuses someone of a crime or offense—says that they are guilty of it.Doing so is called making an accusation.Accusing can happen in everyday situations, such as children accusing each other of not sharing, but accuser is typically only used in serious situations, especially when someone accuses someone else of committing a crime.The person against whom the accusation is made can be described with the adjective accused. Accused is also used as a noun to refer to a person or people who have been charged with a crime, often as the accused. In many legal systems, the accused has the right to face their accuser in court.Example: This verdict has finally brought some justice to his many accusers.

Other Word Forms

  • self-accuser noun

Etymology

Origin of accuser

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; accuse, -er 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Later that month, the anonymous accuser, identified in court documents as Jane Doe, acknowledged there were several inconsistencies in her recollection of the alleged assault but stood firmly behind her accusations.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026

He denied it and his mother dealt with it: She paid the bulk of the settlement to his accuser with her personal fortune.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026

At the time, the White House said the victim referred to was the late Virginia Giuffre, a prominent Epstein accuser who died by suicide earlier this year.

From BBC • Feb. 26, 2026

Irvine has previously admitted attending parties organised by Epstein and Maxwell in New York and Miami, and says he saw Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's accuser Virginia Giuffre at one event, but presumed she was about 20.

From BBC • Feb. 4, 2026

“The accuser is correct that it is the way,” Jamison said to the guardians.

From "Gathering Blue" by Lois Lowry