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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Recent Examples of finger-pointing
China and Japan—a treaty ally of the United States—engaged in finger-pointing after their military aircraft had close encounters while conducting operations over the Pacific Ocean.
—
Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025
The incident set off days of finger-pointing between the governor’s office and City Hall and stirred controversy and inflamed tensions between Pritzker and Johnson early in the new mayor’s tenure.
—Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, 10 June 2025
Meanwhile, back on Earth, their predicament involved intricate planning and ‒ when President Donald Trump and the world's richest man Elon Musk chimed in ‒ no small amount of finger-pointing.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 6 June 2025
But there was no finger-pointing from Nosek’s teammates or coaches after the game.
—Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for finger-pointing
Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025
The incident set off days of finger-pointing between the governor’s office and City Hall and stirred controversy and inflamed tensions between Pritzker and Johnson early in the new mayor’s tenure.
—Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, 10 June 2025
Meanwhile, back on Earth, their predicament involved intricate planning and ‒ when President Donald Trump and the world's richest man Elon Musk chimed in ‒ no small amount of finger-pointing.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 6 June 2025
But there was no finger-pointing from Nosek’s teammates or coaches after the game.
—Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for finger-pointing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for finger-pointing
Noun
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Those efforts often cited efforts to combat accusations of anti-semitism on campus.—
June 27,
CBS News,
27 June 2025
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Court records reviewed by the Orlando Sentinel show the seizures are the result of two forfeiture cases filed in the months after the Aug. 27 raid at The Eclipse, the Kissimmee casino prosecutors placed at the center of the accusations against Sheriff Marcos Lopez.—
Cristóbal Reyes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 June 2025
Noun
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Don’t look to nobody else or point blame at somebody else because you ain’t reached or tapped into your blessings yet.—
DeMicia Inman,
VIBE.com,
7 July 2025
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The balance of the blame fell on the college, according to the judge.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
5 July 2025
Noun
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But his condemnation of intervention in Iran was at odds with the Trump administration whose role in the conflict has splintered the MAGA coalition, a wing of which opposes American involvement in foreign wars.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
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Winning would cap a startling resurrection for Cuomo, a three-term governor who resigned in 2021 amid condemnation for scandals.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
25 June 2025
Noun
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There was overwhelming evidence of his guilt, including his DNA on the knife sheath, cell site evidence the night of the murders, video surveillance of his white Hyundai Elantra, and Amazon search and purchase history of the murder weapon.—
Anna Commander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 July 2025
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Still unaware of the Front Man’s true identity, Gi-hun grapples with survivor’s guilt and begs to be killed.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
Noun
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Libby's censure was initially passed on Feb. 25 by a vote of 75-70.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
25 June 2025
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Iran said other measures were also being planned in response to the U.N. agency's censure.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
13 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Finger-pointing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/finger-pointing. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
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