as in guilty
deserving reproach or blame
we were all equally blameworthy, whether we had openly approved the free-speech restrictions or simply kept quiet about them
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Recent Examples of blameworthy
Extreme cold made the O-rings fail, but NASA’s culture was just as blameworthy and needed a retrofit more urgently than any piece of shuttle hardware.
—
Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 28 Jan. 2026
As the shutdown goes on, moreover, the polling on which side is more to blame seems to be gradually shifting toward Democrats as the more blameworthy side.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
His Stoic Challenge framework invites you to see a setback not as something terrible, blameworthy or unfair but instead as a test of your ingenuity and resilience.
—Hanna Hart, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
But Miss Manners acknowledges that there is also the less blameworthy impulse to offer comfort — not just sympathy — when there is no real comfort to be offered.
—Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2025
To highlight the hazy line between blameworthy and praiseworthy failure, Edmondson routinely asks leaders to estimate the percentage of blameworthy mistakes in their organizations.
—Ann Kowal Smith, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2023
On the whole, Google's spam filter, though in this instance imperfect, is not morally blameworthy.
—Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica, 25 Aug. 2023
Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 28 Jan. 2026
As the shutdown goes on, moreover, the polling on which side is more to blame seems to be gradually shifting toward Democrats as the more blameworthy side.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
His Stoic Challenge framework invites you to see a setback not as something terrible, blameworthy or unfair but instead as a test of your ingenuity and resilience.
—Hanna Hart, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
But Miss Manners acknowledges that there is also the less blameworthy impulse to offer comfort — not just sympathy — when there is no real comfort to be offered.
—Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2025
To highlight the hazy line between blameworthy and praiseworthy failure, Edmondson routinely asks leaders to estimate the percentage of blameworthy mistakes in their organizations.
—Ann Kowal Smith, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2023
On the whole, Google's spam filter, though in this instance imperfect, is not morally blameworthy.
—Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica, 25 Aug. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blameworthy
Adjective
-
Shirilla was found guilty of 12 charges, including murder, and sentenced to two concurrent 15-years-to-life terms in 2023.—
Kathleen Perricone,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 May 2026
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Fairley, who describes himself as a gambling guru, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with the pro basketball betting case.—
Tom Winter,
NBC news,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
Bartscher granted a downward departure, finding that Ryan’s conduct was less serious than typical culpable negligent cases and citing her remorse, court records show.—
Nick Ferraro,
Twin Cities,
26 May 2026
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In addition to the probe by the Maldives government, prosecutors in Rome have opened a culpable homicide investigation into the tragedy, sources told the Italian news agency ANSA.—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
His poor display of unsportsmanlike conduct was reprehensible.—
Kirk Bohls,
Houston Chronicle,
7 Apr. 2026
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Prisons are filled with the faithful and the daily news reports are overflowing with reprehensible, criminal, degenerate theists.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Each count of Medicaid fraud is punishable by up to four years in prison and/or a fine of up to $50,000.—
Joseph Buczek,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
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The law makes any violation a felony punishable by up to three years in jail and a $1,000 fine and refines the attorney general’s guidance for local elections officials’ interactions with law enforcement.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blameworthy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blameworthy. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
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