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
There has been plenty of teeth gnashing and finger-pointing in those big-city baseball markets.
—
Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 2 May 2026
The space is crowded with pending and settled lawsuits, intercorporate finger-pointing, and complex domestic and international legal concerns.
—ArsTechnica, 20 Apr. 2026
Lawmakers used their speeches to condemn growing antisemitism in the country and honor a Nuremberg trials prosecutor with the Congressional Gold Medal, avoiding partisan finger-pointing.
—Sydney Topf, The Washington Examiner, 14 Apr. 2026
But how does finger-pointing help Massachusetts constituents?
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for finger-pointing
Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 2 May 2026
The space is crowded with pending and settled lawsuits, intercorporate finger-pointing, and complex domestic and international legal concerns.
—ArsTechnica, 20 Apr. 2026
Lawmakers used their speeches to condemn growing antisemitism in the country and honor a Nuremberg trials prosecutor with the Congressional Gold Medal, avoiding partisan finger-pointing.
—Sydney Topf, The Washington Examiner, 14 Apr. 2026
But how does finger-pointing help Massachusetts constituents?
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for finger-pointing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for finger-pointing
Noun
-
Unsurprisingly, whispers and accusations of nepotism surround Max’s appointment, with Leon Rice having led the program as head coach since 2010, and the father-son connection is undeniably part of why Max returned to Boise State.—
Shaun Goodwin
June 8,
Idaho Statesman,
8 June 2026
-
Similar charges were leveled against several other rival candidates ahead of the election, spurring accusations of authoritarianism and corruption against Pashinyan’s government.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
Bottoms said political leaders should focus less on blame and more on voters' concerns.—
Zachary Bynum,
CBS News,
7 June 2026
-
In the meantime, each of the three companies is shirking blame.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
5 June 2026
Noun
-
The incursion was the latest in a litany of drone incidents — from both Russia and Ukraine — to afflict NATO member states and leave the 32-member trans-Atlantic organization on edge, drawing strong condemnation from Romania’s allies.—
Stephen McGrath,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
-
The dismissive language triggered outrage from the public, condemnation from unions, and questions from regulators about the extent of potential job cuts.—
Claire Zillman,
Fortune,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
But there’s guilt for Black artists when success means crossing over.—
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson,
VIBE.com,
7 June 2026
-
Carrying that guilt for decades has manifested in a quietly simmering rage that comes out in crimes of passion, including killing his wife.—
Max Gao,
HollywoodReporter,
7 June 2026
Noun
-
Resident Nancy Thomas, a frequent critic of the city commission, demanded that Glassman apologize and called for his censure in emails to city officials.—
Steve Bousquet,
Sun Sentinel,
6 June 2026
-
During the trial, Phelan led the chamber through the impeachment, defended the process and survived Paxton's attempt to replace him in the House and the Texas Republican Party's censure.—
Mateo Rosiles,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Finger-pointing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/finger-pointing. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
