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

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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

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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

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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

Autopsies and other investigations will be needed before the deaths are officially blamed on the heat, Washington said. — Jeffrey Collins, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026 Many of its founding members had seen the horrors of World War I up close (Breton and several others had served in the French army) and blamed their fathers’ generation for the carnage. — Susan Rubin Suleiman, The New York Review of Books, 4 July 2026

Noun

Instead, when concerns arise, blame is routinely shifted, and responsibility becomes one-sided. — Mark Travers, CNBC, 5 July 2026 Maybe that is why A Happy Family was an experience for me that felt very different from politics in many parts of the world where social issues lead people to assign blame to one person or entity. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for blame

Recent Examples of Synonyms for blame

Verb

For all her talk of women as allies, Siebel Newsom portrays conservative women who criticize other women as dupes manipulated by MAGA leaders.

— Jenny Jarvie Follow, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Last month, his ally Uthmeier declined to criticize the state party’s decision to limit the debate.

— Romy Ellenbogen Herald, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026

Definition of criticize

Noun

There are other options, but regardless of what’s on the table for the future, burnout deserves to be taken seriously rather than explained away out of pride, guilt, or habit.

— Scott Hanson, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Crafted with better-for-you ingredients, Javvy's Instant Protein Coffee blend and viral Coffee Concentrate deliver guilt-free indulgence, offering craveable flavors without compromise.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 July 2026

Definition of guilt

Noun

In many cases, cars add stress, expense, and responsibility without many upsides for college students, especially those attending urban colleges and universities with readily accessible public transit.

— Chris Teague, AJC.com, 3 July 2026
Chuck Norris Throughout his life, Chuck Norris was associated with messages celebrating patriotism, faith and civic responsibility.

— Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026

Definition of responsibility

Verb

If these rotations fail to get results, will Spo take the blame or will fans forget his history and fault the player who is underperforming?

— Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 29 June 2026
The lawsuit also faulted organizers for not ensuring attendees did not have weapons, tear gas or bear spray, for allowing attendees to enter the festival from multiple unmonitored points and for not imposing security measures after problems at previous events.

— Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 27 June 2026

Definition of fault

Verb

Eight of the primary winners who condemned the Gaza conflict were backed by American Priorities, a new pro-Palestinian super PAC supporting candidates who have been critical of Israel’s military actions.

— Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 2 July 2026
Lot is often described in the Qurʾān, and in subsequent interpretive traditions, in the role of condemning the men of Sodom for lusting after men rather than women.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 July 2026

Definition of condemn

Verb

Activists and faith leaders denounced the conditions at the office during a press conference the previous day, calling on officials to visit the facility and said there had been bad conditions at the facility for weeks.

— Vera Lucia Pappaterra, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026
Prosecutors call Hearn’s actions a deliberate, violent act causing more than $1,000 in damage, and his attorneys denounce the case as an alarming misuse of government power.

— Lindsay Whitehurst, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026

Definition of denounce

Browse Nearby Words

blamable

blame

blamed

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Style

“Blame.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blame. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of blame

verb

noun

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