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
  • Most have been detained based on scant evidence and vague accusations.
    CBS News, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
  • Polls give Magyar's Tisza party a double-digit lead with Hungarians weary of years of corruption accusations, clashes with the EU and economic stagnation.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Kondayya puts some of the blame for the crash on the city, alleging the backhoe was parked illegally.
    Sheetal Banchariya, New York Daily News, 15 Mar. 2026
  • Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban of harboring Pakistani militant groups; both sides deny targeting civilians while trading blame for attacks.
    Munir Ahmed, Los Angeles Times, 14 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
  • Rarely have an actor's eyes been put to such good use, as Murphy's thousand-yard stare communicates guilt, regret, and anxious anticipation of how his life's work will impact the world for generations to come.
    Devan Coggan, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Mar. 2026
  • His parents, Frank and Tiffany Urrutia, said they were stunned to hear Perez admit guilt during Thursday’s court hearing.
    Abby Dodge, Miami Herald, 14 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • 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
  • Noem was the public face of that disapproval, strutting forward with arrogance in the face of public censure, a veritable clown show of ineptitude.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 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 21 Mar. 2026.

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