Blame — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈblām/

Meaning & Definition of Blame

Blame (verb)

  1. to find fault with, censure
  2. to hold responsible
  3. to place responsibility for

Blame (noun)

  1. an expression of disapproval or reproach, censure
  2. a state of being blameworthy, culpability
  3. fault, sin

Blame (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

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

Blame (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. responsibility for wrongdoing or failure

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

    similar: culpability, fault, guilt, onus, rap
    related: blameworthiness, complicity, guiltiness, sinfulness, accusation, censure, condemnation, denunciation, finger-pointing, reproach, regret, remorse, self-reproach, shame
    opposite: blamelessness, faultlessness, guiltlessness, innocence

  2. 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"

    similar: fault, liability, responsibility
    related: accountability, answerability

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Blame

The most common words with a similar meaning to Blame:

Slang: dis
Chiefly British: slag
censure, condemn, criticize, denounce, deplore, dispraise, fault, knock, pan, reprehend, come down hard (on), find fault (with), take to task, culpability, guilt, onus, rap, liability, responsibility

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Blame

Words with the opposite meaning of Blame:

extol, laud, praise, blamelessness, faultlessness, guiltlessness, innocence

Related Words for Blame

skewer, tweak, assail, attack, blast, clobber, slam, slash, nick (at), snipe (at), beef, bellyache, bitch, carp, cavil, complain, crab, croak, fuss, gripe, grouse, growl, grumble, kick, kvetch, moan, murmur, mutter, niggle, quibble

Near Antonyms of Blame

approve, commend, endorse, recommend, sanction

Word Forms of Blame

Inflections: blamed, blaming

Derived words: blamer (noun), blameless (adjective), blamelessly (adverb), blamelessness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Blame

Middle English, from Anglo-French blamer, blasmer, from Late Latin blasphemare to blaspheme, from Greek blasphēmein

First known use: 13th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Blame

Words & Phrases Containing Blame

pin the blame on, to blame, apportion blame, have (only) oneself to blame, lay the blame for (something) at someone's door, not blame, take the blame, blame/shoot the messenger

Frequently Asked Questions about Blame

What does "Blame" mean?

"Blame" means to find fault with, censure. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to find fault with, censure. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Blame"?

Other words for "Blame" include censure, condemn, criticize, denounce, deplore, dis, dispraise and fault. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Blame" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Blame"?

There are 93 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Blame". Common alternatives include censure, condemn, criticize, denounce, deplore, dis, dispraise, fault, knock and pan.

What is the opposite of "Blame"?

Antonyms of "Blame" include extol, laud, praise, blamelessness, faultlessness, guiltlessness and innocence. Near antonyms include approve, commend, endorse and recommend.

How do you use "Blame" in a sentence?

Examples of "Blame" in a sentence: "more concerned with pleasing audiences, the playwright has always claimed to be indifferent to whether critics praise his comedies or blame them without mercy"; "willingly accepted the blame for not seeing that the kitchen was properly cleaned"; "blame for the school's poor performance in standardized tests was attributed to several factors".

Is "Blame" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Blame" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Blame" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Blame" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+.

How do you pronounce "Blame"?

"Blame" is pronounced /ˈblām/.