finger-pointing

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.

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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 The requirement has been a source of infighting and finger-pointing. Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2026 Welles, who was nominated for four Grammys in 2025, is a gifted lyricist, and his finest verses use cascades of slant rhymes to move subtly from specific finger-pointing to broader implication. Mitch Therieau, New Yorker, 7 Feb. 2026 The revelation ignited a new round of finger-pointing and accusations inside an already combative primary. Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026 But if Kraft gets announced next week as a Hall of Fame inductee, the howling and finger-pointing will take over the remaining hours in the run-up to his Patriots playing the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX. Steve Buckley, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for finger-pointing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for finger-pointing
Noun
  • Spacey has denied the accusations.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Mar. 2026
  • The federal government has recently called into question the veracity of their accusations.
    Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 24 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was among those who made the claim, pinning blame on the United States for the de facto blockade.
    Zach LaChance, The Washington Examiner, 22 Mar. 2026
  • Somehow Taparjan finds a way to reckon with her own messiness with vulnerability and lets go of the blame and shame game that many parents, children and siblings fall into.
    Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 20 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The move triggered condemnation from the African Union, the European Union, and countries including China, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.
    Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 20 Mar. 2026
  • While the findings aren’t a condemnation of any one specific crossbreed, the study’s authors hope the new information will help dispel ongoing myths about designer dogs.
    Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 19 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Jurors had to decide the question by a preponderance of the evidence, a lower standard than reasonable doubt in the guilt phase.
    City News Service, Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026
  • Originally sentenced to three years in prison, Seungri’s term was reduced to 18 months in 2022 following his admission of guilt.
    Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • After a meeting with one of them goes horribly wrong, Devlin and her publicist Sylvie, another a victim of Hollywood’s censure, find revenge offers a unique albeit gruesome ingredient for Glob’s products.
    Paula L. Woods, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
  • The censure document also states that in 2024, the Board sought to address Ko’s absences by updating its policy to reaffirm meeting importance and participation.
    Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Finger-pointing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/finger-pointing. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.

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