Synonyms of blame

blame 1 of 2

verb

ˈblām 

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

• criticize
• fault
• condemn
• denounce
• knock
• attack
• find fault (with)
• censure
• tweak
• deplore
• complain
• slam
• pan
• slag
• dispraise
• slash
• reprehend
• kick
• lash
• dis
• come down hard (on)
• take to task
• blast
• admonish
• whine
• grumble
• chide
• scold
• nick (at)
• assail
• bitch
• moan
• gripe
• beef
• mutter
• crucify
• berate
• murmur
• snipe (at)
• clobber
• grouse
• skewer
• excoriate
• quibble
• cavil
• reprimand
• upbraid
• decry
• disparage
• rebuke
• deride
• reproach
• castigate
• bellyache
• belittle
• kvetch
• growl
• carp
• reprove
• crab
• bad-mouth
• flay
• hammer
• pillory
• niggle
• discommend
• fuss
• lambaste
• keelhaul
• croak
• drub
• put down
• gibbet

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• praise
• approve
• recommend
• commend
• endorse
• extol
• laud
• sanction

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

• guilt
• fault
• culpability
• accusation
• onus
• sinfulness
• regret
• rap
• condemnation
• complicity
• censure
• shame
• remorse
• blameworthiness
• denunciation
• finger-pointing
• guiltiness
• reproach
• self-reproach

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• blamelessness
• innocence
• guiltlessness
• faultlessness

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

• responsibility
• fault
• liability
• accountability
• answerability

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of blame

Verb

Miller has denied all the charges and blamed them on his wife’s mental health struggles. — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 3 Aug. 2026

The dire situation is once again being blamed on the global memory chip shortage. — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 3 Aug. 2026

Noun

Still, Republican lawmakers are laying the groundwork for blame if the opposing party gains power in the future, according to political scientist Daniel Hopkins. — Rahul Mukherjee, NPR, 31 July 2026

And while no one side deserves all the blame, the drama tends to follow a similar pattern. — Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 July 2026