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accusingly

accusingly

3 4.4
In a way that shows you blame someone
  • adverb
  • /əˈkjuːzɪŋli/
translation icon : acusadoramente
  • The teacher looked accusingly at the student who had been caught cheating.
  • said accusingly
  • stared accusingly
  • looked accusingly

Examples

  • I did love him," Orrik said, looking at me accusingly, as if I would deny it.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • " You didn't die on the black stone, then, did you? " she said, accusingly.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • "God, you gave me a shock," she said accusingly as they both drew close.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Janet looked at her hand accusingly and then held it out to Nick.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • The chair then added, accusingly, "You discussed racial issues in class, and some explanation is needed."

    Academic text (2003)
  • But don't look at me so accusingly when it happens, okay?

    Fiction book (1996)
  • "Why are we using Styrofoam again?" She pointed accusingly to the nearest coffee cup.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • "Oh my God," she whispered, then glared accusingly at her husband.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • "We've never had any like that on my side of the family," he flung accusingly at her.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • "What's this?" he asked accusingly, pointing to some yellowish tablets.

    Fiction book (2001)

Synonyms

damningly
vsaccusingly
1 7.7

In a way that shows strong criticism or clear evidence of guilt

suggests blame without strong proof or intense condemnation

Antonyms

38 3.6

In a way that tries to protect someone from attack or criticism

How Accusatory

sharply
44 2.8
accusingly
3 4.4
neutrally
2 3.6

Surface Forms

accusingly positive

Morphology

accusingly = accusing (transparent) = accuse + ing + ly

Formed by adding the adverbial suffix '-ly' to 'accusing' (which itself is transparently from 'accuse' + '-ing'), so the adverbial meaning is directly derived.

Etymology

Accusingly comes from accuse, which comes from the Latin parts ad- 'to' and causa 'cause' or 'reason'. Think of the common word cause — to accuse someone is to put the 'cause' or fault on them, so accusingly means doing or saying something in a blaming way, like pointing a finger at someone.