English Explanatory Dictionary

blame

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Censure.
  2. Culpability for something negative or undesirable.
  3. Responsibility for something meriting censure.
  4. A source control feature that can show which user was responsible for a particular portion of the source code.
verb
  1. To assert or consider that someone is the cause of something negative; to place blame; to attribute responsibility (for something negative or for doing something negative).
  2. To assert the cause of some bad event.
  3. To censure (someone or something); to criticize.
  4. To bring into disrepute.
adj
  1. euphemism of damn (intensifier)

Pronunciation

blām /bleɪm/ en-us-blame.ogg LL-Q1860 (eng)-Back ache-blame.wav

Word forms

blame blames blaming blamed no-table-tags glossary blamest blamedst blameth

Etymology

From Middle English blame, borrowed from Old French blame, blasme, produced from the verb blasmer, which in turn is derived from Late Latin blastēmāre, variant of blasphēmāre, from Ancient Greek βλασφημέω (blasphēméō). Doublet of blaspheme. Displaced native Old English tǣling (“blame”) and tǣlan (“to blame”).

Synonyms

dispraise disapprobation disapproval attainder attainture attaintment blame censure condemnation condemning damnation improbation reprehension admonishment brickbatting castigation chastisement criticism critique discommendation panning vituperation accuse atwite bumble challenge cop out decry defame denounce fault finger inculpate lay at someone's door lay on lay something at the feet of patronize point the bone put it to put the blame on shend twit wite hold to account hold someone responsible hold someone accountable reproach take to task upbraid find fault admonish animadvert bash bawl out slash lash scorch blast berate berisp

Antonyms

absolve acquit disculpate forgive

Related words

fault hold to account scapegoat praise criticize

Derived words

blameful blame game blameless blameshift blamesmanship blamestorm blameworthy blamey put the blame on blamable blameable blame Canada blamer dad-blamed misblame overblame to blame victim-blame
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