Synonyms of fault

fault 1 of 2

noun

ˈfȯlt 

1

as in weakness

a defect in character

the common fault of being quick to judge others

Synonyms & Similar Words

• weakness
• failing
• shortcoming
• sin
• deficiency
• foible
• demerit
• sinfulness
• vice
• feet of clay
• flaw
• evil
• frailty
• dereliction
• imperfection
• want
• stain
• blemish
• blot
• minus
• soft spot
• spot
• corruption
• immorality
• nit
• wickedness
• depravity
• Achilles' heel

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• virtue
• merit
• excellence
• perfection
• integrity
• morality
• goodness
• righteousness
• rectitude
• probity

2

as in mistake

an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy

there's a fault somewhere in the program

Synonyms & Similar Words

• mistake
• error
• blunder
• inaccuracy
• fumble
• brick
• stumble
• miscue
• misstep
• trip
• screwup
• flub
• goof
• lapse
• slipup
• gaffe
• slip
• boob
• oversight
• gaff
• bobble
• clinker
• fluff
• clanger
• boo-boo
• misunderstanding
• misjudgment
• miscalculation
• pratfall
• snafu
• misreading
• misinterpretation
• misconception
• blooper
• howler
• bloomer
• misstatement
• misconstruction
• miscomprehension
• misapprehension
• misdescription
• foul-up
• boner
• misimpression

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• accuracy
• precision
• correctness
• exactness
• strictness
• exactitude
• perfection
• preciseness
• infallibility
• inerrancy

3

as in blame

responsibility for wrongdoing or failure

getting the time of the performance wrong was entirely my fault

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• innocence
• blamelessness
• faultlessness
• guiltlessness

4

as in defect

something that spoils the appearance or completeness of a thing

the minor faults in the leather are entirely natural and are what gives it a look different from vinyl

Synonyms & Similar Words

• defect
• blotch
• scar
• flaw
• mark
• imperfection
• distortion
• deformity
• irregularity
• blemish
• stain
• blight
• disfigurement
• mar
• spot
• abnormality
• bug
• excrescence
• weakness
• injury
• pockmark
• excrescency
• glitch
• damage
• failing
• malformation
• impairment
• taint
• kink
• blot
• blur
• misshape
• defacement

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• enhancement
• decoration
• ornament
• adornment
• embellishment

5

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

• blame
• responsibility
• liability
• accountability
• answerability

fault

2 of 2

verb

as in to blame

to express one's unfavorable opinion of the worth or quality of

you should look at your own work before faulting what others have done

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

Recent Examples of fault

Noun

The court also said any problems caused by the timing of the ruling is the fault of the secretary of state, who waited eight months before making a decision on the ballot initiative. — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026

Their roster hasn’t been nearly strong enough to contend, which is not the manager’s fault. — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026

Verb

Critics have faulted Meta over many of its safety features that users have to manually turn on, or opt into themselves. — Barbara Ortutay, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026

Reddington also faulted the American psychiatric community’s diagnostic system for using a four-week cutoff to classify a disorder as having peripartum onset. — Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2026

Phrases Containing fault

• at fault
• find fault (with)
• to a fault