blame 1 of 2

verb

ˈblām How to pronounce blame (audio)
Definition of blamenext
as in to criticize
to express one's unfavorable opinion of the worth or quality of more concerned with pleasing audiences, the playwright has always claimed to be indifferent to whether critics praise his comedies or blame them without mercy

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

blame

2 of 2

noun

1
as in guilt
responsibility for wrongdoing or failure willingly accepted the blame for not seeing that the kitchen was properly cleaned

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in responsibility
the state of being held as the cause of something that needs to be set right blame for the school's poor performance in standardized tests was attributed to several factors

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of blame
Verb
The public narrative around Lindsay Clancy has focused on systemic failures—blaming the mental health system for not doing enough. — Dr. Susan Hatters Friedman, Hartford Courant, 23 Aug. 2026 As has often been the case with such incidents, no group was immediately publicly blamed or claimed responsibility for the actions. — ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
Noun
Zhykovych’s lawyer, Anatoliy Ivanov, dismissed the allegations, telling CNN that Reut was the organizer and killer and was seeking to shift the blame onto Zhykovych. — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026 Yet the answers remain evasive enough that Golden State coach Natalie Nakase charges herself with the blame for not yet finding new answers for this foe. — Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for blame
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blame
  1. criticize
  2. guilt
  3. responsibility
  4. fault
  5. condemn
  6. denounce
Verb
  • The panel has also been criticized for including vaccine opponents.
    — Claire Sibonney, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Vogel has been criticized for her initial comments about her estranged daughter’s sudden death at the age of 36.
    — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of criticize
Noun
  • Four suspects pleaded guilty, including mastermind David Voss, and Benji admitted guilt and had his case administered through a First Nations restorative justice program, while charges against two were dropped, CityNews notes.
    — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Paxton did not have to admit guilt, but was required to pay $300,000 in restitution and complete community service.
    — Benjamin Siegel, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of guilt
Noun
  • But when a traumatic drunken night resurfaces, Júlía must confront shame, family responsibilities and the courage to tell her own story, reads the logline.
    — Annika Pham, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Russian officials have denied responsibility for all such incursions.
    — David Brennan, ABC News, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of responsibility
Verb
  • Researchers believe this may have been a reactivation of faulting in the prehistoric rocks beneath the monocline.
    — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Sabalenka double-faulted on match point, her seventh double fault of the day, to put an exclamation point on an irritating evening.
    — Lukas Weese, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of fault
Verb
  • Based on a Joseph Conrad story, the period drama follows two officers in Napoleon’s army (Keith Carradine and Harvey Keitel) whose minor quarrel condemns them to 15 years of repeatedly trying to kill each other.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Police opened an investigation earlier this summer into death threats against Gabela left under one of Corben’s posts, which Corben condemned.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of condemn
Verb
  • Curtis’ office, and created online petitions denouncing Kurv’s industrial plan, garnering more than 1,000 signatures.
    — Brian J. Rogal, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Pyongyang has long denounced the joint drills, calling them a rehearsal for invading the North.
    — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of denounce

Browse Nearby Words

blamable
blame
blamed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Blame.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blame. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of devolve

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All