indict
verb
in·dict in-ˈdīt 
indicted; indicting; indicts
transitive verb
1
: to charge with a crime by the finding or presentment of a jury (such as a grand jury) in due form of law
2
: to charge with a fault or offense : criticize, accuse
indicter noun
or indictor
in-ˈdī-tər
Synonyms
- accuse
- charge
- criminate
- defame [archaic]
- impeach
- incriminate
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
A grand jury is expected to indict him for murder. the grand jury could indict the mayor for fraud and embezzlement
Recent Examples on the Web In another incident, Berman tells of the DOJ’s pressure to indict former secretary of state John Kerry for violating the Logan Act, a law that prohibits private citizens from negotiating with foreign governments. 
Barbara Mcquade, Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2022 Trump’s legal team can make a strong argument to Alito and others that there is a tradition of refusing to indict former presidents for their actions in office, even if these criminal actions fell outside the scope of their jobs. Brynn Tannehill, The New Republic, 1 Sep. 2022 Protests erupted Wednesday in Louisville, Ky., after a grand jury declined to indict officers for the death of Breonna Taylor. Talal Ansari, WSJ, 3 Mar. 2022 Don’t be so quick to indict the Heat regarding being stuck in place without first considering the potential for 2022-23 upgrades from Adebayo, Herro, Lowry, Oladipo and others. Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 3 Sep. 2022 Trump is currently benefiting from the Department of Justice’s quasi-official directive to not indict a political figure within 90 days of an election. Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 2 Sep. 2022 The unprecedented raid on former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate might be part of a larger deep-state plan to indict the former president in front of a D.C. jury, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich told Fox News. Charles Creitz, Fox News, 28 Aug. 2022 Despite these revelations, a grand jury said there was insufficient evidence to indict Donham on kidnapping and manslaughter charges. Paige Mcglauflin, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2022 After hearing more than seven hours of testimony from investigators and witnesses, a Leflore County grand jury determined there was insufficient evidence to indict Carolyn Bryant Donham on charges of kidnapping and manslaughter. Elvia Limón, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2022 See More
Barbara Mcquade, Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2022 Trump’s legal team can make a strong argument to Alito and others that there is a tradition of refusing to indict former presidents for their actions in office, even if these criminal actions fell outside the scope of their jobs. Brynn Tannehill, The New Republic, 1 Sep. 2022 Protests erupted Wednesday in Louisville, Ky., after a grand jury declined to indict officers for the death of Breonna Taylor. Talal Ansari, WSJ, 3 Mar. 2022 Don’t be so quick to indict the Heat regarding being stuck in place without first considering the potential for 2022-23 upgrades from Adebayo, Herro, Lowry, Oladipo and others. Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 3 Sep. 2022 Trump is currently benefiting from the Department of Justice’s quasi-official directive to not indict a political figure within 90 days of an election. Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 2 Sep. 2022 The unprecedented raid on former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate might be part of a larger deep-state plan to indict the former president in front of a D.C. jury, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich told Fox News. Charles Creitz, Fox News, 28 Aug. 2022 Despite these revelations, a grand jury said there was insufficient evidence to indict Donham on kidnapping and manslaughter charges. Paige Mcglauflin, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2022 After hearing more than seven hours of testimony from investigators and witnesses, a Leflore County grand jury determined there was insufficient evidence to indict Carolyn Bryant Donham on charges of kidnapping and manslaughter. Elvia Limón, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
alteration of earlier indite, from Middle English inditen, from Anglo-French enditer to write, point out, indict — more at indite
First Known Use
1531, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
indict
verb
in·dict in-ˈdīt
indicted; indicting
: to formally charge with an offense or crime
Legal Definition
indict
transitive verb
in·dict in-ˈdīt
: to charge with a crime by the finding or presentment of a grand jury in due form of law compare accuse, arraign, charge
indicts
verb
as in accuses
to make a claim of wrongdoing against the grand jury could indict the mayor for fraud and embezzlement Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- accuses
- blames
- prosecutes
- incriminates
- charges
- criticizes
- impeaches
- sues
- defames
- castigates
- denounces
- chides
- criminates
- condemns
- impugns
- cites
- censures
- appeals
- implicates
- damns
- reproves
- arraigns
- tries
- rebukes
- reproaches
- faults
- summons
- taxes
- reports
- books
- reprobates
- retaliates
- calls (on)
- names
- inculpates
- recriminates
- frames
- informs (against)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- exonerates
- acquits
- absolves
- vindicates
- clears
- defends
- advocates
- justifies
- exculpates
- champions
- forgives
- remits
- excuses
- pardons
- shrives