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as in responsibility
the state of being held as the cause of something that needs to be set right the investigator determined that the auto accident was entirely the other driver's fault

Synonyms & Similar Words

fault

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun fault differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of fault are failing, foible, frailty, and vice. While all these words mean "an imperfection or weakness of character," fault implies a failure, not necessarily culpable, to reach some standard of perfection in disposition, action, or habit.

a writer of many virtues and few faults

When could failing be used to replace fault?

The words failing and fault can be used in similar contexts, but failing suggests a minor shortcoming in character.

being late is a failing of mine

When might foible be a better fit than fault?

Although the words foible and fault have much in common, foible applies to a harmless or endearing weakness or idiosyncrasy.

an eccentric's charming foibles

In what contexts can frailty take the place of fault?

While the synonyms frailty and fault are close in meaning, frailty implies a general or chronic proneness to yield to temptation.

human frailties

When is it sensible to use vice instead of fault?

The synonyms vice and fault are sometimes interchangeable, but vice can be a general term for any imperfection or weakness, but it often suggests violation of a moral code or the giving of offense to the moral sensibilities of others.

compulsive gambling was his vice

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 fault
Noun
The truck company claimed to TMZ that its driver was not at fault. Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2025 Anatomy of the jaw The tongue obstructing airflow is not always the fault of the tongue itself. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
Parolin also faulted global powers for their paralysis. Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2025 As the government shutdown began, polls showed voters were divided on who to blame, with many faulting both parties. Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 2 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fault
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fault
Noun
  • That humility will always prevail over ego, kindness isn’t a form of weakness, and true happiness isn’t measured by what’s in your bank account or even by the empty rows of your refrigerator.
    Christopher Kamrani, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
  • How does the relative length of our haunting reflect our collective moral strengths and weaknesses?
    Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The 49ers also made a big mistake in fielding just 10 players on the very play on which Warner was injured.
    Matt Barrows, New York Times, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Conservative activists have spent the past forty-six years arguing that this was a terrible mistake.
    Emma Green, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Miller argues that universities are breeding grounds for ideological intolerance, laying blame on Marxist ideas.
    Mitch Picasso , Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2025
  • When asked about his final interception, Beck appeared to place blame on a teammate for running the wrong route, rather than taking full responsibility himself.
    Cole Sullivan, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The deficiency was caused due to defects in the Pdha2 gene.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Meanwhile, Congress fiddles while structural defects in Medicare and Social Security threaten to engulf the programs.
    Editorial, Boston Herald, 12 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Milne joined the network in 2019 as managing editor of CBS This Morning, and took on additional responsibilities, like breaking news, the following year.
    Ted Johnson, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Sponsors assume no responsibility for any error, omissions, interruption, deletion, defect or delay in operation with transmission, communications, line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to or allegation of submissions.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Since leaving the British royal family in 2020 and stepping down from their roles as senior members of The Firm, Harry and Meghan have faced backlash for their media ventures and transition into Hollywood, with many criticizing the couple’s lack of views on their Netflix content.
    Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 12 Oct. 2025
  • Beijing has long criticized Washington for exerting control beyond its borders through export rules that bar third-country companies from supplying China with chips made using American technology.
    John Liu, CNN Money, 12 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • As was Matthiessen’s self-awareness about his own moral failings.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2025
  • So [in the film], there’s this sort of notion that, if a movie star kind of represents us in all our failings and humanity, what does that mean exactly?
    Damon Wise, Deadline, 11 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • There aren’t any obvious errors that can be laid at Darlow’s door over the past four matches.
    Beren Cross, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Sponsors assume no responsibility for any error, omissions, interruption, deletion, defect or delay in operation with transmission, communications, line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to or allegation of submissions.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fault.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fault. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.

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