这些术语均有指控某人犯罪的含义。accuse指刑事指控， 为通用词，可表示正式或非正式，官方或个人指控[1]，如：to accuse sb. of murder (指控某人犯谋杀罪）。charge—般指向法院提起的正式指控，如：to charge sb. with murder (指控某人犯谋杀罪）；此外，它还可表示谴责某人违背某些行为准则等[2]。 impeach为“弹劾”，多指因公共官员犯了叛逆罪或其他严重罪行而对其提起的指控[3];在英国，此种指控多由下议院提起， 由上议院审理。incriminate用于刑事犯罪，可指直接控告罪犯， 如：He was incriminated in the conspiracy (他被指控参与共谋）; 也可指某人因不利证词而受牵连，而后一用法更为常见，如to incriminate oneself (自证其罪）。indict主要用于刑事犯罪，且多用于对罪行较为严重的罪犯的正式指控，在美国，尤指由大陪审团直接通过indictment而提起的控诉[4]，如性质较轻的summary offences则不用该单词表示起诉或指控。

[1] "To charge with a crime..” Cf. Daphne Dukelow, The Dictionary of Canadian Law, at p. 8，Thomson Professional Publishing Canada (1991), “To charge (a person) judicially or publicly with an offense，to make an accusation against. ” Cf. Bryan A. Garner, Black's Law Dictionary, 7th edition, at p. 22, West Group (1999).

[2] "To take proceeding or lay an information against a person believed to have committed an offense. " Cf. Daphne Dukelow, The Dictionary of Canadian Law, at p. 150, A Carswell Publication (1991). “To accuse sb. formally of having committed a crime. " Cf. P. H. Collin, English-Chinese Bilingual Law Dictionary, 2nd edition, at. p. 85, Peter Collin Publishing,世界图书出版社（1998).

[3]“To charge with a crime or misconduct, specifically, to charge a (public official) before a competent tribunal (as the US Senate) with misconduct in office. ” Cf. Linda Picard Wood, J. D. , Merriam Webster's Dictionary of Law, at p. 235, Merriam-Webster, Incorporated ,Springfield, Massachusetts (1996)

[4]“To charge (a person) with a crime be formal legal process, esp. by grand-jury presentation. ” Cf. Bryan A. Gamer, Black's Law Dictionary, 7th edition, at p. 776, West Group (1999).