finger-pointing

noun

Definition of finger-pointingnext
as in accusation
the act of blaming someone for a problem instead of trying to fix or solve it Engaging in finger-pointing will not help us solve the problem. There was no shortage of finger-pointing among executives after the movie bombed at the box office.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 finger-pointing Some say finger-pointing brings no balm to the broken, that the occasion calls for a more elegant mourning that doesn’t complicate or traipse on the legacy of celebrated places, people, or traditions. — Karen Valby, Vanity Fair, 16 June 2026 The two have clashed over outside spending on the race, with Wahls criticizing VoteVets spending on Turek's behalf and Turek finger-pointing at Wahls' past work with The Next 50, which promotes young Democratic candidates around the country. — Cooper Worth, Des Moines Register, 2 June 2026 Right now, there’s too much finger-pointing and not enough ownership. — Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 4 May 2026 There has been plenty of teeth gnashing and finger-pointing in those big-city baseball markets. — Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 2 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for finger-pointing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for finger-pointing
  1. accusation
  2. blame
  3. condemnation
  4. guilt
  5. censure
Noun
  • Reducing legitimate scientific disagreement to accusations of prejudice undermines that effort.
    — Torie Bosch, STAT, 18 July 2026
  • Several troubling new details are included in the articles, including an accusation that ADA leadership knew in advance that members would be handing out copies of the editorial and deliberately set up an ambush by venue security and local police.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 17 July 2026
Definition of accusation
Noun
  • Instead, when concerns arise, blame is routinely shifted, and responsibility becomes one-sided.
    — Mark Travers, CNBC, 5 July 2026
  • Spence also appears to be absorbing the blame for broader failures, with Thomas Tuchel’s touchline frustrations obvious and — for a player still establishing himself at this level — that scrutiny is unlikely to help.
    — Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 4 July 2026
Definition of blame
Noun
  • This means private landowners may have more success challenging condemnation actions under their state constitutions than in federal court.
    — Aaron Walayat, The Conversation, 16 July 2026
  • Beneath the memoir runs a steady defense of everyday Beirutis and, equally, a condemnation of the world that distances itself from their pain.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 July 2026
Definition of condemnation
Noun
  • The jury’s guilt-innocence verdict appears to be an assessment that Royal intentionally or knowingly caused Watkins’ death, but not during a robbery.
    — Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 July 2026
  • What’s surprsing, however, is that the two habits that turn up again and again in the closest, most durable couples suggest the guilt is misplaced.
    — Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of guilt
Noun
  • After the censure on Monday, Hulsey again tried to exclude the city administrator from council business when the governing body went into executive session.
    — Rachel Royster July 8, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 July 2026
  • The escalation should start with a warning from the chair, followed by a motion of the board of censure (asking the owner to quiet down), followed by a motion to eject the offending owner from the meeting.
    — Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 July 2026
Definition of censure

Browse Nearby Words

finger paintings
finger-pointing
fingerprint
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Finger-pointing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/finger-pointing. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 17
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
child-detective
Spot the Misspelled Word July 2026 Those little red underlines can't help you now...
See All