BLAME Synonyms: 109 Similar and Opposite Words

blame 1 of 2

verb

ˈblām

Definition of blame

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

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

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

Signs quickly piled up at his roadside memorial blaming Bustillos for the chain of events and telling other drivers to slow down. — Jacob Sisneros, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026 Although mugwort and goldenrod are often blamed for autumnal allergies, most seasonal symptoms are actually caused by ragweed – a common lookalike plant that can produce billions of grains of pollen in a single season. — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 30 Aug. 2026

Noun

The author contends the Fed cannot control price shifts stemming from sophisticated global cooperation, new technologies, or supply chain disruptions, making blame for inflation or expectations of quick fixes unrealistic. — John Tamny, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026 Other people are rarely the focus of blame in cases where fathers kill their children. — Dr. Susan Hatters Friedman, Hartford Courant, 23 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for blame

Recent Examples of Synonyms for blame

Verb

The move came days after Stephens publicly criticized EMCC and Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference leadership over changes to the league’s football schedule and playoff format.

— Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also defended the decision to increase bond purchases earlier last month, after investor Stanley Druckenmiller criticized the move.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of criticize

Noun

Meta doesn’t have to admit guilt and almost a third of the fine is contingent on competitors adopting similar measures.

— Diane Brady, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
Maybe Druckenmiller owning his AI use and receiving the Journal’s blessing heralds a new era of guilt-free mechanized writing.

— Will Oremus, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of guilt

Noun

Handle one visible fix, share one responsibility, or set up tomorrow’s essentials.

— Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Aug. 2026
For smaller practices, the development of digital outreach often takes place alongside patient care and routine administrative responsibilities.

— Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of responsibility

Verb

The report specifically faults the Ohio Department of Development's oversight, as well as actions by local affiliates, including the Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network in Cleveland and Ohio State University South Centers in Piketon.

— CBS News, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
Arnett doesn’t fault anyone for choosing a safer, more comfortable path, especially in this season of life.

— Judith Garrison, AJC.com, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of fault

Verb

Democrats pushed for El-Sayed to more directly condemn Piker and his comments, though El-Sayed framed the whole episode as a nonissue in the election.

— Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 27 Aug. 2026
Turkey and Saudi Arabia are particularly pleased that the SDF will be disbanded due to its historic relationship to the Kurdistan Workers Party, a group widely condemned as a terrorist organization.

— Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of condemn

Verb

Democratic divisions haven’t disappeared El-Sayed, who would be the country’s first Muslim senator, has denounced antisemitism while fiercely criticizing Israel for its military operations in Gaza.

— Joey Cappelletti, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
At least 10 high-profile Democrats have denounced the comments, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).

— Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of denounce

Browse Nearby Words

blamable

blame

blamed

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Blame.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blame. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of blame

verb

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

dissonant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

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

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

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

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes