indictment

An official statement accusing someone of a crime, or the legal process of making that accusation.

• He faces indictment for fraud.
• The jury returned an indictment against three suspects.
• Her lawyer challenged the indictment before the trial.

How to use it: indictment of someone for something (The indictment of the director for fraud shocked investors.)

Similar words: criminal charge, accusation

Common phrases: criminal indictment, indictment for fraud, face indictment

A strong statement saying that someone or something has done wrong.

• The book is an indictment of corruption.
• His letter offers a fierce indictment of the company.
• She delivered a powerful indictment of unfair working conditions.

How to use it: indictment of someone/something (Her speech was an indictment of the government’s policy.)

Similar words: condemnation, denunciation

Opposites: praise

Common phrases: indictment of something, powerful indictment

A legal document that lists the crimes someone is officially accused of.

• The indictment lists four charges.
• She read a copy of the indictment.
• The prosecutor filed a revised indictment on Monday.

Similar words: charge sheet

Common phrases: sealed indictment, read the indictment, file an indictment

Something that shows how badly a person, system, or organization has failed.

• The delays are an indictment of poor planning.
• Those figures are a sad indictment of the health system.
• Their repeated defeats were an indictment of his leadership.

How to use it: indictment of something (These empty classrooms are an indictment of our education policy.)

Common phrases: indictment of something, sad indictment