Synonyms of blame

blame 1 of 2

verb

ˈblām 

as in to criticize

to express one's unfavorable opinion of the worth or quality of

more concerned with pleasing audiences, the playwright has always claimed to be indifferent to whether critics praise his comedies or blame them without mercy

Synonyms & Similar Words

• criticize
• fault
• condemn
• denounce
• knock
• attack
• find fault (with)
• censure
• tweak
• deplore
• complain
• slam
• pan
• slag
• dispraise
• slash
• reprehend
• kick
• lash
• dis
• come down hard (on)
• take to task
• blast
• admonish
• whine
• grumble
• chide
• scold
• nick (at)
• assail
• bitch
• moan
• gripe
• beef
• mutter
• crucify
• berate
• murmur
• snipe (at)
• clobber
• grouse
• skewer
• excoriate
• quibble
• cavil
• reprimand
• upbraid
• decry
• disparage
• rebuke
• deride
• reproach
• castigate
• bellyache
• belittle
• kvetch
• growl
• carp
• reprove
• crab
• bad-mouth
• flay
• hammer
• pillory
• niggle
• discommend
• fuss
• lambaste
• keelhaul
• croak
• drub
• put down
• gibbet

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• praise
• approve
• recommend
• commend
• endorse
• extol
• laud
• sanction

blame

2 of 2

noun

1

as in guilt

responsibility for wrongdoing or failure

willingly accepted the blame for not seeing that the kitchen was properly cleaned

Synonyms & Similar Words

• guilt
• fault
• culpability
• accusation
• onus
• sinfulness
• regret
• rap
• condemnation
• complicity
• censure
• shame
• remorse
• blameworthiness
• denunciation
• finger-pointing
• guiltiness
• reproach
• self-reproach

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• blamelessness
• innocence
• guiltlessness
• faultlessness

2

as in responsibility

the state of being held as the cause of something that needs to be set right

blame for the school's poor performance in standardized tests was attributed to several factors

Synonyms & Similar Words

• responsibility
• fault
• liability
• accountability
• answerability

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of blame

Verb

Newsom blamed high gas prices on rising global oil costs tied to the conflict in Iran. — Sacbee.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Tracy’s ads blame Pritzker and Stratton for higher gas taxes. — Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026

Noun

During the campaign, PAM had ruled out staying in a coalition with the RNI — the two had traded blame over policy shortcomings including a failure to halt rises in food prices. — CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2026

Eritrea accused Ethiopia of shifting blame for the ongoing conflict. — ABC News, 28 Sep. 2026