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blameworthy
[ bleym-wur-thee ]
blameworthy
/ ˈbleɪmˌwɜːðɪ /
adjective
- deserving disapproval or censure
Derived Forms
- ˈblameˌworthiness, noun
Other Words From
- blameworthi·ness noun
Word History and Origins
Origin of blameworthy1
Example Sentences
In either case, identity politics might be unnecessary, and anyone who engages in it would be equally blameworthy.
Unless those blameworthy, anti-14th Amendment justices, are impeached for the first time in U.S. history for obstructing justice.
Repenters are wracked by "an overwhelming sense of guilt," a hard-to-shake feeling that one is blameworthy for having benefited from historical injustices, and for continuing to benefit from racist systems.
Ideally, the blameworthy baddie would be someone who can cast these politicians’ own party as the hero.
Something we realized early on was how this book could be construed as a finger-pointing exercise, but we knew it would be far more complex and less blameworthy.
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More About Blameworthy
What does blameworthy mean?
Blameworthy is used to describe someone or something that deserves to be blamed for something negative that has happened.
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. However, 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.
The word blame can also be used as a noun referring to the responsibility for something negative that happened. This is how the word is used in the phrase assign blame. As a noun, blame can also mean the disapproval, condemnation, or criticism for something bad that happened, as in He deserves most of the blame for the loss.
Calling a person blameworthy indicates the belief that they are responsible for what happened and that they should receive the criticism for having caused it.
The word blameful means the same thing as blameworthy but is less commonly used.
Example: Those who participated in the fraud should be held responsible, but those who knew about it and did nothing are also blameworthy.
Where does blameworthy come from?
The first records of the word blameworthy 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 term worthy is used in other compound words, such as trustworthy (“worthy of trust”) and newsworthy (“worthy of being in the news”).
The opposite of blameworthy is blameless, which is used to describe someone who hasn’t done anything wrong—they haven’t done anything to be blamed for.
Did you know … ?
What are some other forms related to blameworthy?
- blameworthiness (noun)
- blame (verb, noun)
What are some synonyms for blameworthy?
What are some words that share a root or word element with blameworthy?
What are some words that often get used in discussing blameworthy?
How is blameworthy used in real life?
Blameworthy is always used in negative contexts. It’s most often used in serious situations, such as those involving a crime or other serious wrongdoing.
A thing one learns in ethics classes, working through case studies & such: Doing NOTHING can be just as blameworthy a choice as doing something.
— Dr. Janet D. Stemwedel, PhD 🏳️🌈 (@docfreeride) August 29, 2019
With proof of quid pro quo new defense is no harm, no foul. But attempt is itself a crime because wrongdoer is just as blameworthy even if he fails. And holding up military aid for months for corrupt purpose risked our national security and harmed our credibility around the world
— Barb McQuade (@BarbMcQuade) November 9, 2019
Blaming LGBTIQ+ people for disasters is absurd, cruel and dangerous. "While the identification of a blameworthy party (or parties) may be cathartic for some, it is rarely mere rhetoric: it places real people at risk" https://t.co/hmKJkZWQoU
— Scott McKinnon (@McKinnon_SJ) November 18, 2019
Try using blameworthy!
Is blameworthy used correctly in the following sentence?
“They are equally blameworthy and deserve the same punishment.”
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