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
That resulted in an oversupply and built-in costs that sent water rates skyrocketing — and a lot of finger-pointing.
—
Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
Bass sacked Kristin Crowley a month after the January 2025 Palisades Fire, and her dismissal was followed by finger-pointing between the ex-chief and City Hall over the blaze's devastation and the fire department’s funding.
—ABC News, 24 Feb. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for finger-pointing
Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
Bass sacked Kristin Crowley a month after the January 2025 Palisades Fire, and her dismissal was followed by finger-pointing between the ex-chief and City Hall over the blaze's devastation and the fire department’s funding.
—ABC News, 24 Feb. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for finger-pointing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for finger-pointing
Noun
-
The panel asked anyone with accusations against a lawmaker to come forward.—
Jared Gans,
The Hill,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The seizure followed a weekend of mixed signals on the status of the strait and mutual accusations of violating the fragile ceasefire set to expire Wednesday.—
Peter Weber,
TheWeek,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
So when Devlin disappears, leaving behind a pool of blood on the living room carpet, the blame falls on the chief.—
Sandra Dallas,
Denver Post,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Hezbollah denied links to the attack calling in a statement for caution in assigning blame and judgment until the Lebanese army completes its investigation to determine the full circumstances of the incident.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Ye has drawn widespread condemnation for making antisemitic remarks and voicing admiration for Adolf Hitler.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The immigration roundups and deaths of Mexican migrants have prompted condemnation, notes of protests and calls for investigation from the Sheinbaum administration.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The prosecutors said the long lag showed consciousness of guilt.—
Clifford Ward,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Well, there are worse things to do with your guilt over saying something cruel in a drunken rant than throwing a very thoughtful 30th-birthday party, no?—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Such criminal contempt proceedings can result in fines or other forms of censure.—
Jan Wolfe,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
-
But lawmakers could pursue other avenues for accountability as well, like censure.—
Kaia Hubbard,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Finger-pointing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/finger-pointing. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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