as in accusation
the act of blaming someone for a problem instead of trying to fix or solve it
Engaging in finger-pointing will not help us solve the problem. There was no shortage of finger-pointing among executives after the movie bombed at the box office.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of finger-pointing
The horribly destructive wildfires sweeping through Los Angeles County neighborhoods have become fodder for irresponsible, fact-free finger-pointing, mostly aimed at Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Gov. Gavin Newsom.
—
Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 16 Jan. 2025
The party's 2024 election loss has also resulted in a new round of finger-pointing over which ideological flank of the party was to blame.
—Andrew Solender, Axios, 14 Jan. 2025
Advertisement Scenes of sheer devastation in L.A. — from Altadena to the Palisades to Pacific Coast Highway — have been met with finger-pointing and barbs traded at the highest levels of government.
—Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2025
Still, the political finger-pointing has begun over whether more could have been done sooner.
—Kirk Siegler, NPR, 12 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for finger-pointing 
Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 16 Jan. 2025
The party's 2024 election loss has also resulted in a new round of finger-pointing over which ideological flank of the party was to blame.
—Andrew Solender, Axios, 14 Jan. 2025
Advertisement Scenes of sheer devastation in L.A. — from Altadena to the Palisades to Pacific Coast Highway — have been met with finger-pointing and barbs traded at the highest levels of government.
—Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2025
Still, the political finger-pointing has begun over whether more could have been done sooner.
—Kirk Siegler, NPR, 12 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for finger-pointing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for finger-pointing
Noun
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Meanwhile, the tampering accusation, which got the bulk of the headlines, feels like a distraction from the real issue.—
Stewart Mandel,
The Athletic,
22 Jan. 2025
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Prince Harry reached a settlement with Rupert Murdoch’s British tabloids over accusations of unlawful information gathering.—
German Lopez,
New York Times,
22 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Manchester City were 4-2 down and some of the blame could be put on Keating for almost all of the goals City conceded.—
Jessy Parker Humphreys,
The Athletic,
20 Jan. 2025
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The arrests raised questions about whether there is a real attempt to seek justice or a political move underway to deflect the blame for Ukraine's battlefield challenges, which include troop shortages and problems with mobilization.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
20 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Elon Musk, the world’s richest man and a top aide to President Trump, drew and quickly dismissed a raft of condemnation from Democratic lawmakers, left-wing politicians abroad and others across the internet after twice making what to some looked like a Nazi salute from an inauguration stage.—
Kevin Rector,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2025
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Faced with racist quotas and restrictive laws, Perkins dared public condemnation—even enduring a congressional crusade for her impeachment—in a desperate effort to save refugees and relocate them to the United States.—
Sara Georgini,
Smithsonian Magazine,
21 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Rather than dwelling in guilt, choose one family or charity to help.—
Barbara A. Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Jan. 2025
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The study found that the top triggers of emotional commerce were excitement at 70 percent, FOMO with 65 percent and guilt at 55 percent.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
WWD,
27 Jan. 2025
Noun
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But as part of the censure, the board barred Morris from taking part in deliberations and votes regarding the Hagekhalil investigation.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Dec. 2024
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Still, her presence does give Sorkin the opportunity to leap back and forth between the writing of the address and the aftermath, exploring the president’s struggle to regain his composure after a congressional censure in the process.—
Matthew Jackson,
Vulture,
23 Sep. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Finger-pointing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/finger-pointing. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.
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