Political Scandal Terminology

noun a person or group of people who are charged with or on trial for a crime

verb past tense of accuse, meaning to charge someone with a crime or wrongdoing

• The accused will have the opportunity to present their defense in court.
• Did you hear about the accused in the news?
• I can't believe they accused me of stealing!
• His guilty conscience accused him in the dead of night.

noun a sudden decline or loss of power, status, or prosperity

• The downfall of the company was attributed to poor management decisions.
• His downfall was when he got caught cheating on the exam.
• Her downfall was partying too hard and failing all her classes.
• The downfall of the dictator marked the beginning of a new era for the country.