Word: accusatory (adjective)

Associations

The word "accusatory" describes something that suggests someone is guilty of a crime or wrongdoing. It often implies blame or criticism.

• Example 1: "Her accusatory tone made him feel defensive." Here, "accusatory" describes the tone of voice that suggests blame.
• Example 2: "The accusatory remarks in the meeting led to a heated argument." In this case, "accusatory" refers to comments that blame others.
• Example 3: "He gave her an accusatory look when he found out about the missing money." Here, "accusatory" describes a look that implies blame or suspicion.

A well-known synonym for "accusatory" is "blaming." The main difference is that "blaming" often focuses more on the act of assigning blame, while "accusatory" refers to the manner or tone in which that blame is expressed.

Substitution

Instead of "accusatory," you could use:

• "blaming" – which emphasizes the act of assigning blame.
• "critical" – which suggests expressing disapproval but not necessarily implying guilt.
• "condemnatory" – which indicates strong disapproval, often in a moral sense.

Each of these words has a slightly different meaning and can change the tone of your sentence.

Deconstruction

The word "accusatory" comes from the root "accuse," which means to charge someone with a fault or crime. The suffix "-tory" indicates relating to or characterized by. So, "accusatory" literally means relating to the act of accusing.

Historically, the word has roots in Latin, where "accusare" means "to call to account." This helps explain why "accusatory" is associated with blame and judgment.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when someone used an accusatory tone with you? How did it make you feel?
• In what situations might someone use accusatory language?
• How would you respond if someone spoke to you in an accusatory way?