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.

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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 And what has unfolded since has included a public apology, an impending name change, and quite a bit of finger-pointing and side-taking. — Marci Robin, Allure, 21 Sep. 2026 Below the surface, there is a lot of contemptuous finger-pointing about where the anti-AI energy now coursing through the political-media landscape is coming from. — David Weigel, semafor.com, 16 Sep. 2026 Most of all, that sort of finger-pointing is where this mayor has fallen so short during his time in office. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026 Vitello was face-to-face with Porter, a screaming match complete with curse words and finger-pointing. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 29 Aug. 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
  • The controversy also comes at a time when retractions have been on the rise and many researchers have faced accusations of bias from politicians.
    — TODD WALLACK THE WASHINGTON POST, Arkansas Online, 8 Nov. 2026
  • The attention surfaced new accusations of misconduct against sitting members and thrust a spotlight onto others that were part of ongoing legal battles.
    — Anna Liss-Roy, Washington Post, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of accusation
Noun
  • If El-Sayed loses, there will be a fight over blame between Democrats who spent tens of millions of dollars to support him and progressives who’ll argue that the party establishment can’t be trusted when leftist candidates win a nomination.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 2 Nov. 2026
  • But fans who looked at the All-22 video of the play weren’t ready to put all the blame on Mahomes, and that created an interesting discourse.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of blame
Noun
  • Saudi Arabia assembled a coalition backing the government, waging a yearslong campaign of air bombardment that brought it international condemnation over civilian deaths.
    — AHMED HATEM, Arkansas Online, 8 Nov. 2026
  • News of his arrest quickly drew expressions of shock and disbelief from his colleagues — as well as condemnation from those who felt as though Townsend was being unfairly targeted by law enforcement because of the nature of his work.
    — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of condemnation
Noun
  • Another study found that Americans felt less collective guilt about harm done to Iraqis when they were reminded of 9/11—and even when they were reminded of Pearl Harbor.
    — Paul Bloom, New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2026
  • But her fumbling coming-of-age is fraught with guilt, mostly about Callie and her shattered mother.
    — Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of guilt
Noun
  • Israel might face its ultimate fear—losing the United States’ veto at the UN Security Council, which has protected its occupation since 1967 from international censure, even under critical Democratic presidents such as Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama.
    — Aluf Benn, Foreign Affairs, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Football—besides being one of our more ubiquitous and unrestrained national entertainments—has also become one of the rare arenas in American life where highly specialized language can flourish without censure.
    — Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of censure

Browse Nearby Words

finger paintings
finger-pointing
fingerprint
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Cite this Entry

“Finger-pointing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/finger-pointing. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

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