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View synonyms for blameless

blameless

[ bleym-lis ]

adjective

  1. free from or not deserving blame; guiltless:

    a blameless child.

    Synonyms: irreproachable

    Antonyms: guilty



blameless

/ ˈbleɪmlɪs /

adjective

  1. free from blame; innocent
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈblamelessly, adverb
  • ˈblamelessness, noun
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Other Words From

  • blameless·ly adverb
  • blameless·ness noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of blameless1

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; blame, -less
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Synonym Study

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Example Sentences

In blameless conditions, Sri Lanka should have made England work hard, only to fold in the face of some relentless pace bowling.

From BBC

Only Brook, who made 33, can feel blameless, after he was trapped by a full one from Fernando.

From BBC

He made a mistake on his final qualifying run yesterday but was blameless in today's first-corner collision.

From BBC

“It is difficult to imagine a more blameless offense than resting outside with a blanket to survive the cold when you have nowhere else to go,” the advocates said.

In blameless conditions, England's minimum requirement was to drag the match into a fourth day.

From BBC

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More About Blameless

What does blameless mean?

Blameless is used to describe someone who hasn’t done anything wrong—they haven’t done anything to be blamed for.

To blame someone for something is to accuse them of having caused it or to hold them responsible for it. The word blame is always used in the context of something bad that happened—you don’t blame someone for something good. When someone is blamed for something, it doesn’t mean they are guilty of it—it simply means they are being accused of being guilty of it.

However, the word blameless typically implies that a person is completely innocent. It’s often used in negative constructions to suggest the opposite.

Example: Those who participated in the fraud should be held responsible, but those who knew about it and did nothing are not blameless.

Where does blameless come from?

The first records of the word blameless come from the 1300s. Blame comes from the Late Latin blasphēmāre, meaning “to blaspheme” (“to speak in a disrespectful way about God or other things considered sacred”). The suffix -less means “without” and is used to form adjectives.

The phrase without blame can be used as a synonym of blameless. The opposite of blameless is blameworthy, which is used to describe someone or something that deserves to be blamed for something or to receive criticism for having caused it. The word blameful means the same thing as blameworthy but is less commonly used.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to blameless?

  • blamelessness (noun)
  • blame (verb, noun)

What are some synonyms for blameless?

What are some words that share a root or word element with blameless

 

 

What are some words that often get used in discussing blameless?

 

 

How is blameless used in real life?

Blameless usually means “innocent,” but it’s typically in negative contexts—especially ones in which blame is being assigned or denied.

Try using blameless!

Is blameless used correctly in the following sentence?

“He is utterly blameless and has done nothing wrong.”

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