Basic Details
Word: Accusing
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Showing that you think someone has done something wrong, as in an accusing look; also the -ing form of the verb accuse.
Synonyms: blaming, reproachful, critical
Antonyms: approving, forgiving
How to Spell Accusing
Syllables: ac - cus - ing
Tricky part: The e at the end of accuse is dropped before ing. Like accuse, it has a double c and a single s.
Watch out for: accuseing, acusing, accussing
Memory tip: Two c's for the two people in every accusation, the one who blames and the one who is blamed. The e of accuse runs away as soon as ing arrives.
Usage Examples
Example 1: Mother gave me an accusing look when she saw the empty biscuit tin.
Example 2: Stop accusing your sister without checking first.
Example 3: He pointed an accusing finger at the dog, who was covered in mud.
Fun Fact
The accusative case, used for the object of a verb in languages such as Latin and German, comes from the same Latin verb accusare.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word accusing as used in the sentence:
The teacher's accusing glance moved from one silent student to the next.
a) approving
b) blaming
c) reproachful
d) suspicious
Show answer
a) approving. An approving glance shows you are pleased, the opposite of one that blames.
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
Instead of accuseing her neighbour, Mrs Kapoor checked the security camera and found that a monkey had taken the clothes from the line.
a) clothes
b) accuseing
c) security
d) neighbour
Show answer
b) accuseing. Accuse loses its final e before ing, just as use becomes using and refuse becomes refusing.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one of these words is spelt correctly. Choose its meaning:
1. accusing 2. threatenning 3. confesing 4. complaning
a) admitting a wrong one has done
b) warning that you will cause harm
c) saying that you are unhappy about something
d) blaming someone for doing wrong
Show answer
d) blaming someone for doing wrong. Confessing has a double s, complaining an ai and threatening a single n before ing, which leaves accusing as the correct one.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. An accusing tone of voice suggests that the speaker ____.
a) is very sleepy
b) thinks you did something wrong
c) agrees with you
d) is telling a joke
Show answer
b) thinks you did something wrong
2. Which word means the person who is blamed in a court case?
a) the accuser
b) the accusing
c) the accusation
d) the accused
Show answer
d) the accused
