hold (someone) responsible
idiom
: to blame
If the plan fails I will hold you responsible.
—often + forHe holds me responsible for the project's failure.
Examples of hold (someone) responsible in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In the aftermath, a criminal investigation was launched and lawsuits were filed, all trying to assign blame and find someone to hold responsible.
—
Martha Ross, Mercury News, 1 May 2025
The Dixon Injury Firm provides compassionate legal support to families during this difficult time, pursuing wrongful death claims to hold responsible parties accountable and secure financial compensation for surviving family members.
—William Jones, USA TODAY, 16 Jan. 2025
The reasons for abandonment vary, but at least 126,000 of these wells are orphans, meaning there’s no longer an owner or company that state regulators can hold responsible for them.
—Delger Erdenesanaa, New York Times, 24 May 2024
And his work has drawn acolytes who would like to think so, too — including some of the very people in big tech whose work Mr. Haidt seems to hold responsible for the rising generation’s social ills.
—Emma Goldberg, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2024
The prosecution of both parents, and an uptick in other criminal prosecutions and civil lawsuits tied to mass shootings, indicates attorneys are increasingly seeking to hold responsible people – and companies – who didn’t pull the trigger.
—Celina Tebor, CNN, 3 Mar. 2024
Society often wants to hold someone responsible, said Dana Sussman, deputy executive director of Pregnancy Justice.
—Duaa Eldeib, ProPublica, 7 Oct. 2023
Swan described the 2004 storm as the impetus for her desire to hold someone responsible for the situation Kivalina finds itself in.
—Emily Witt, The New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2022
And with dangerous extreme weather on the rise, more states and cities are looking for someone to hold responsible.
—David Gelles, New York Times, 22 June 2023
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.
Martha Ross, Mercury News, 1 May 2025
The Dixon Injury Firm provides compassionate legal support to families during this difficult time, pursuing wrongful death claims to hold responsible parties accountable and secure financial compensation for surviving family members.
—William Jones, USA TODAY, 16 Jan. 2025
The reasons for abandonment vary, but at least 126,000 of these wells are orphans, meaning there’s no longer an owner or company that state regulators can hold responsible for them.
—Delger Erdenesanaa, New York Times, 24 May 2024
And his work has drawn acolytes who would like to think so, too — including some of the very people in big tech whose work Mr. Haidt seems to hold responsible for the rising generation’s social ills.
—Emma Goldberg, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2024
The prosecution of both parents, and an uptick in other criminal prosecutions and civil lawsuits tied to mass shootings, indicates attorneys are increasingly seeking to hold responsible people – and companies – who didn’t pull the trigger.
—Celina Tebor, CNN, 3 Mar. 2024
Society often wants to hold someone responsible, said Dana Sussman, deputy executive director of Pregnancy Justice.
—Duaa Eldeib, ProPublica, 7 Oct. 2023
Swan described the 2004 storm as the impetus for her desire to hold someone responsible for the situation Kivalina finds itself in.
—Emily Witt, The New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2022
And with dangerous extreme weather on the rise, more states and cities are looking for someone to hold responsible.
—David Gelles, New York Times, 22 June 2023
Cite this Entry
“Hold (someone) responsible.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hold%20%28someone%29%20responsible. Accessed 29 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share