1
as in weaknesses
a defect in character
the common fault of being quick to judge others
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in mistakes
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy
there's a fault somewhere in the program
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in defects
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in blames
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
as in criticizes
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 faults
Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2026
These mini-seismic events are not considered true earthquakes because there is no movement along faults or tectonic plate boundaries.
—Tammie Souza, CBS News, 7 Feb. 2026
When the tectonic plates began to pull apart millions of years later, those ancient faults at their edges reawakened, reincarnated as transform faults.
—Evan Howell, Scientific American, 4 Feb. 2026
See what study says What causes these faults?
—Keenan Thompson, Freep.com, 4 Feb. 2026
Advertisement For all her legion of faults, Hasina kept a lid on extremism and had even recognized a transgender-protection law.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 28 Jan. 2026
Most important, in none of the previous San Ramon swarms has a major earthquake been triggered on the Calaveras Fault or other nearby faults.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 26 Jan. 2026
The program also covers how to identify common wine faults, how to pair wine with any type of food and how climate change and globalization are influencing today’s wine industry.
—Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
Often, the people with the most invested in the current model are also the least equipped to see its faults.
—Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 22 Dec. 2025
The group’s memo faults the NDAA on two fronts.
—Brett Samuels, The Hill, 8 Dec. 2025
The Cartwell family's complaint also faults a DPW supervisor for allegedly allowing the truck driver to leave the scene in a Lyft.
—Mike Hellgren, CBS News, 21 Nov. 2025
The suit also faults the Federal Aviation Administration for allowing the congested airspace to exist and the actions of controllers.
—Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025
Cindy also faults her decision to bring Stephenie with her on the reward.
—EW.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Noun
Barca’s faults, however, went far beyond him.
—Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2026
These mini-seismic events are not considered true earthquakes because there is no movement along faults or tectonic plate boundaries.
—Tammie Souza, CBS News, 7 Feb. 2026
When the tectonic plates began to pull apart millions of years later, those ancient faults at their edges reawakened, reincarnated as transform faults.
—Evan Howell, Scientific American, 4 Feb. 2026
See what study says What causes these faults?
—Keenan Thompson, Freep.com, 4 Feb. 2026
Advertisement For all her legion of faults, Hasina kept a lid on extremism and had even recognized a transgender-protection law.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 28 Jan. 2026
Most important, in none of the previous San Ramon swarms has a major earthquake been triggered on the Calaveras Fault or other nearby faults.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 26 Jan. 2026
The program also covers how to identify common wine faults, how to pair wine with any type of food and how climate change and globalization are influencing today’s wine industry.
—Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
Often, the people with the most invested in the current model are also the least equipped to see its faults.
—Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Verb
In the Gospels, Jesus faults the Pharisees for insisting on a legalistic Sabbath.
—Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 22 Dec. 2025
The group’s memo faults the NDAA on two fronts.
—Brett Samuels, The Hill, 8 Dec. 2025
The Cartwell family's complaint also faults a DPW supervisor for allegedly allowing the truck driver to leave the scene in a Lyft.
—Mike Hellgren, CBS News, 21 Nov. 2025
The suit also faults the Federal Aviation Administration for allowing the congested airspace to exist and the actions of controllers.
—Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025
Cindy also faults her decision to bring Stephenie with her on the reward.
—EW.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for faults
Noun
-
Blending technology and old-fashioned instruction Among Colorado’s weaknesses last season, starting pitching was the most glaring.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
19 Feb. 2026
-
His floor is described as very high due to every-day playing time, a solid lineup role and no glaring category weaknesses.—
Derek VanRiper,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In February 2025, NASA hired an independent team to determine why the mission failed, examining everything from broken hardware to leadership mistakes.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Feb. 2026
-
District Attorney John Creuzot has since assigned two lawyers to check the judgments with district clerks to help prevent mistakes.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
But the document also expresses uncertainty about whether the potential defects constitute a crime, noting that elections in Fulton County have already been the subject of multiple reviews.—
Kate Brumback,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
-
This allowed the researchers to spot small structural changes and identify defects in 2D materials.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
One owner who started an Amazon delivery business in 2019 blames skyrocketing premiums for slashing his annual profit from $400,000 to $150,000.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Since last fall, the Media Research Center, a right-wing organization that criticizes legacy media outlets, has turned its attention on Apple News’ story selection.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Paxton’s intervention also criticizes the panel of administrative law judges for failing to seek a medical expert’s opinion before determining Bowden could be subject to discipline from the medical board.—
Evan MacDonald,
Houston Chronicle,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
According to industry experts, teachers have often become the shock absorbers of systemic shortcomings, and students are among those most affected by the resulting gaps in engagement and preparation for future challenges.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Jagged shards of memory shown in flashbacks suggest Laura’s fear and vulnerability as a young girl (played by the filmmakers’ daughter Eliz Mundruczó), alongside indications of narcissistic, at times violent Ivan’s shortcomings as a parent.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Judges have a duty to ensure that a person’s liberty, due process rights, and privacy are not compromised by administrative or technical errors.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Feb. 2026
-
But those errors didn’t stop his performance on Sunday from helping Team USA earn a gold medal in the team figure skating event.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Rock and mud slides are possible near steep terrain, and debris flows are possible on burn scars.—
Staff,
Daily News,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Debris flows are possible on burn scars.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Faults.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/faults. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
