blame

/bleɪm/

/bleɪm/

Other forms: blamed; blaming; blames; blamingly

Blame is about being responsible for something that's bad or has gone wrong. If you have a headache, you might blame it on the heat, or on not getting enough sleep.

A person can be to blame for something. Your mom might walk into the house, see a broken lamp and blame you. Often, in official contexts, blame is "assigned" or "placed." A common complaint among younger siblings is, "Why do I always get blamed for everything?"

Definitions of blame

1. noun

   an accusation that one is responsible for some lapse or misdeed
   “the police laid the blame on the driver”

   synonyms: incrimination, inculpation

   types:

   self-incrimination

   an accusation that incriminates yourself

   type of:

   accusal, accusation

   a formal charge of wrongdoing brought against a person; the act of imputing blame or guilt
2. noun

   a reproach for some lapse or misdeed
   “he took the blame for it”

   synonyms: rap

   type of:

   reproach

   a mild rebuke or criticism
3. verb

   put or pin the blame on
   synonyms: fault

   antonyms:

   absolve

   excuse or free from blame

   types:

   scapegoat

   blame or punish someone for the errors of others

   type of:

   accuse, charge

   blame for, make a claim of wrongdoing or misbehavior against
4. verb

   attribute responsibility to
   “We blamed the accident on her”

   synonyms: charge

   type of:

   ascribe, assign, attribute, impute

   attribute or credit to
5. verb

   harass with constant criticism
   synonyms: find fault, pick

   type of:

   criticise, criticize, knock, pick apart

   find fault with; express criticism of; point out real or perceived flaws
6. adjective

   expletives used informally as intensifiers
   “it's a blamed shame”

   “a blame cold winter”

   synonyms:

   cursed, curst

   deserving a curse; sometimes used as an intensifier