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.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of finger-pointing
The sudden blowup was the most heated public exchange of words between world leaders in the Oval Office in memory, as the usual staid work of diplomacy descended into finger-pointing, shouting and eye-rolling.
—
Zeke Miller, The Denver Post, 1 Mar. 2025
What began as a formal meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Friday — a confidence-building step in a path toward peace between Russia and Ukraine — devolved into a feud, with finger-pointing and accusations.
—Jennifer Jacobs, CBS News, 1 Mar. 2025
Such finger-pointing was common practice at the commission’s quarterly meeting in early February, where families, friends and supporters of people who have died in custody of the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office asked the commission to deem the jail out of compliance with minimum standards.
—Cody Copeland, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Feb. 2025
After the tragic plane and Black Hawk helicopter crash over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., President Donald Trump went full throttle into finger-pointing.
—Tom Zirpoli, Baltimore Sun, 4 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for finger-pointing
Zeke Miller, The Denver Post, 1 Mar. 2025
What began as a formal meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Friday — a confidence-building step in a path toward peace between Russia and Ukraine — devolved into a feud, with finger-pointing and accusations.
—Jennifer Jacobs, CBS News, 1 Mar. 2025
Such finger-pointing was common practice at the commission’s quarterly meeting in early February, where families, friends and supporters of people who have died in custody of the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office asked the commission to deem the jail out of compliance with minimum standards.
—Cody Copeland, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Feb. 2025
After the tragic plane and Black Hawk helicopter crash over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., President Donald Trump went full throttle into finger-pointing.
—Tom Zirpoli, Baltimore Sun, 4 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for finger-pointing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for finger-pointing
Noun
-
De Vido was at the center of his own set of corruption scandals, including accusations of having received $25 million in bribes from giant Brazilian construction company Odebrecht.—
Antonio Maria Delgado,
Miami Herald,
21 Mar. 2025
-
Netanyahu has dismissed the accusation as a politically motivated attempt to unseat him, but his critics have accused him of undermining the institutions underpinning Israel's democracy by seeking Bar's removal.—
Reuters,
USA TODAY,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The attention, and some of the blame, would have to start shifting onto a player pool whose reputation had been built up but now had to start delivering.—
Paul Tenorio,
The Athletic,
21 Mar. 2025
-
This doesn't mean eliminating accountability but rather shifting from cultures of blame to curiosity when things go wrong.—
Michael Hudson,
Forbes,
20 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
As news of the article's removal drew widespread condemnation on social media, Ullyot released a statement attempting to explain the administration's rationale.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
21 Mar. 2025
-
Mahmoud Khalil's detention by ICE agents supervised by the White House has drawn widespread condemnation from civil rights and legal advocacy groups.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA TODAY,
18 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Vietor, worried about guilt by association, turned it down.—
Andrew Marantz,
The New Yorker,
17 Mar. 2025
-
That guilt will weigh on my heart for the rest of my life.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
People.com,
17 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Libby represents more than 9,000 constituents in Maine's House District 90, and six of them have signed onto the lawsuit as plaintiffs because the censure has impeded her ability to help carry out other legislative actions to serve those constituents.—
Jackson Thompson,
Fox News,
12 Mar. 2025
-
Boebert’s office did not comment Tuesday but referenced a Monday post on X in which Boebert addressed the censure resolution by mocking Houlahan.—
Katie Langford,
The Denver Post,
12 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Finger-pointing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/finger-pointing. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share