blaming
v. · n.-
1 accusing someone (v.) B1 Intermediatesaying that someone is responsible for something bad that happened.
attributing responsibility or fault to a person or entity for a specific failure or negative event.
ExampleStop blaming your brother for the mess in the kitchen.
ExampleThe public is increasingly blaming the government for the sudden rise in energy costs over the winter months.
UsageOften follows the pattern 'blaming someone for something'.
PitfallShe is blaming me about the accident.She is blaming me for the accident.Use the preposition 'for' to indicate the reason or event someone is being blamed for.
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2 the act of assigning fault (n.) B2 Upper Intermediatethe act of pointing out who is at fault.
the action of assigning culpability or responsibility, often used as a gerund in subject or object positions.
ExampleConstant blaming will not help us solve the problem.
ExampleThe culture of blaming within the department prevented the team from identifying the actual technical root of the failure.
UsageUsed as an uncountable noun to describe a behavior or process.
- accusation
- finger pointing
From Middle English blamyng, blamynge, equivalent to blame + -ing.
From blame + -ing.