indictment
/ɪnˈdaɪtmənt/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪnˈdaɪtmənt/ (ame, ipa) · /in-ˈdīt-mənt/ (ame, mw)
indictment — noun
1. A spoken or written attack that accuses a person, organization, or idea of being
A spoken or written attack that accuses a person, organization, or idea of being seriously flawed or morally wrong.
The senator's speech was a powerful indictment of the government's climate inaction.
indictment of [target] — pattern for directing criticism
Tariro's report on the factory conditions was a damning indictment of the entire industry.
damning indictment — strong adjective collocation
The documentary serves as a harsh indictment of how the system treats homeless families.
Many critics read the novel as a sweeping indictment of unchecked consumer culture.
- condemnation
stronger and more moralistic; used for outright rejection rather than reasoned critique
- denunciation
more public and formal; implies a dramatic, often angry rejection
- criticism
broader and milder; can be everyday disapproval without the force of an indictment
- censure
formal disapproval from an authority such as a committee or governing body
- commendation
formal expression of approval or praise
文法句型
indictment + of + noun phrase
用法筆記
Often followed by of + noun phrase naming the target of criticism. Frequently used with strong adjectives (damning, scathing, harsh, powerful).
常見錯誤
2. A condition or situation that clearly shows how badly flawed a system, instituti
A condition or situation that clearly shows how badly flawed a system, institution, or set of beliefs really is.
The high unemployment rate is a clear indictment of the city's economic policies.
be an indictment of [system] — identifying evidence of failure
For Sofia, the empty classrooms were an indictment of how little the board valued education.
The gap between rich and poor stands as an indictment of the nation's social model.
To Linh, the abandoned parks were a sad indictment of a city that stopped caring.
- condemnation
can also be a sign of failure, but more often refers to a verbal judgment
- reflection
softer and neutral; does not carry the same force of moral judgment
- testimony
can be positive or negative; implies evidence rather than accusation
- endorsement
a sign that something is working well
- vindication
proof that a system or belief is correct
文法句型
be an indictment of + noun phrase
用法筆記
This sense does NOT describe a verbal attack — instead, the situation itself is the evidence of failure. The pattern is almost always be an indictment of + noun phrase or stand as an indictment of + noun phrase.
常見錯誤
3. A formal charging document prepared through a grand jury proceeding, which accus
A formal charging document prepared through a grand jury proceeding, which accuses someone of a serious crime and allows the case to proceed to trial.
The grand jury returned an indictment against the former executive on fraud charges.
return an indictment — standard legal collocation
Jude's lawyer studied every line of the indictment before the hearing began.
The federal indictment listed six counts of bribery and money laundering.
A sealed indictment was issued, and the suspect was arrested the following morning.
- charge
broader term; can be any formal accusation, not necessarily from a grand jury
- accusation
informal and general; does not carry the same legal weight
- information
a prosecutor's charging document used without a grand jury in some US jurisdictions
文法句型
indictment + against + person
indictment + on + charges
用法筆記
In US law, an indictment is issued by a grand jury based on evidence presented by a prosecutor. In other legal systems, a similar document may be called a charge sheet or information. The verb is indict — note the silent c.
常見錯誤
4. The legal procedure by which a person is formally charged with a serious crime,
The legal procedure by which a person is formally charged with a serious crime, typically through a grand jury's decision.
The prosecutor is seeking an indictment from the grand jury next Tuesday.
seek an indictment — common legal phrasing
Tamar faces indictment on multiple charges linked to the data breach.
face indictment — typical verb + noun collocation
The company operated under threat of indictment for nearly a year.
The new rule requires an indictment before a suspect is held beyond two days.
- prosecution
broader; covers the entire legal case from charge to trial, not just the charging stage
- charging
more general; can apply to any level of offense, not only serious crimes
文法句型
under indictment
face indictment
await indictment
用法筆記
Unlike sense 3 (the document), this sense refers to the entire legal process or state of being formally charged. Common in phrases like under indictment (currently charged) and face indictment (be about to be charged).