BLAMABLE Synonyms: 35 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'blamable' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of blamable are blameworthy , culpable , and guilty . While all these words mean "deserving reproach or punishment," blameworthy and blamable apply to any degree of reprehensibility. // conduct adjudged blameworthy // an accident for which no one is blamable

Q: When could 'culpable' be used to replace 'blamable'?

While the synonyms culpable and blamable are close in meaning, culpable is weaker than guilty and is likely to connote malfeasance or errors of ignorance, omission, or negligence. // culpable neglect

Q: When would 'guilty' be a good substitute for 'blamable'?

The words guilty and blamable are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, guilty implies responsibility for or consciousness of crime, sin, or, at the least, grave error or misdoing. // guilty of a breach of etiquette

blamable

adjective

ˈblā-mə-bəl

Definition of blamable

as in guilty

deserving reproach or blame an honest mistake is hardly a blamable offense

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How is the word blamable different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of blamable are blameworthy, culpable, and guilty. While all these words mean "deserving reproach or punishment," blameworthy and blamable apply to any degree of reprehensibility.

conduct adjudged blameworthy

an accident for which no one is blamable

When could culpable be used to replace blamable?

While the synonyms culpable and blamable are close in meaning, culpable is weaker than guilty and is likely to connote malfeasance or errors of ignorance, omission, or negligence.

culpable neglect

When would guilty be a good substitute for blamable?

The words guilty and blamable are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, guilty implies responsibility for or consciousness of crime, sin, or, at the least, grave error or misdoing.

guilty of a breach of etiquette

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for blamable

Adjective

Smith accepted a deal from prosecutors in March, pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

— Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2026
Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, 36, of Orlando Florida, has pleaded not guilty to trying to murder the singing superstar, plus more than a dozen other felony charges stemming from the shooting in March.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of guilty

Adjective

Extreme cold made the O-rings fail, but NASA’s culture was just as blameworthy and needed a retrofit more urgently than any piece of shuttle hardware.

— Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 28 Jan. 2026
As the shutdown goes on, moreover, the polling on which side is more to blame seems to be gradually shifting toward Democrats as the more blameworthy side.

— Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025

Definition of blameworthy

Adjective

Police opened a culpable homicide case, and the cause of the collision remained under investigation, Spies said.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026
The attorney represented Jennifer McCabe in 2023, when Read’s defense began claiming that the Canton woman was partly culpable for O’Keefe’s death.

— Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of culpable

Adjective

Maliciously and intentionally killing an animal can be charged as felony animal cruelty in California, which is punishable by up to three years in county jail and up to $20,000 in fines.

— Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
The charges against Schram were all Class 4 felonies, which are punishable by a one- to three-year prison term.

— Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of punishable

Adjective

So while Murrill’s desire to deprive exonerees of money is terrible, Alexander said, her efforts to prevent them from having their names officially cleared are truly reprehensible.

— Richard A. Webster, ProPublica, 6 Aug. 2026
In the last two weeks, two Illinois House Democrats have been exposed for allegedly misusing their offices, engaging in reprehensible conduct and abusing the public trust placed in them as state representatives.

— Amy Elik, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2026

Definition of reprehensible

Adjective

He was placed under arrest and charged with first-degree arson, first-degree reckless endangerment, first-degree criminal mischief and interfering with an officer.

— Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026
This reckless negligence was palpable at Bagram Air Base, where troops left an ocean of trash in the wake of their messy departure.

— Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of reckless

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.

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blahs

blamable

blame

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“Blamable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blamable. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of blamable

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