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⚠️ To blame 🔧 A defect 🌍 A crack in rock 👎 To criticize 🎾 Invalid serve
to fault

to fault

50 4.3
To blame someone for a mistake or problem
  • verb
  • /fɔlt/
translation icon : culpar
  • You should not fault her for making that mistake; everyone messes up sometimes.
  • fault someone for failing
  • hard to fault
  • critics fault

So, you know, I don't fault them for that, but oh good.

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Examples

Synonyms

to blame
vsto fault
∞ 1.6

To say that someone or something caused something bad

also includes expressing disapproval as well as assigning responsibility
to criticize
vsto fault
701 3.3

To say what is wrong with someone or something

adds the idea of assigning responsibility, not just voicing displeasure
to blame it on
vsto fault
81 3.7

To say someone or something caused a problem

is more general, including both accusation and open disapproval
to pin on
vsto fault
60 4.8

To say someone caused a problem when they did not

can be used fairly or unfairly and includes mere disapproval
to point fingers
vsto fault
  • Informal
46 4.8

To blame someone when it is not clear who is at fault

is used more generally, not only in unclear responsibility situations
to chastise
vsto fault
  • Formal
33 7.6

To scold someone strongly for doing something wrong

is broader, including milder disapproval and simple responsibility claims
to take to task
vsto fault
18 6.3

To scold someone strongly for a mistake

is less about severe punishment and more about naming responsibility
to find fault
vsto fault
15 4.4

To say something is wrong or not good, often about small things

is about naming who is responsible or sometimes milder criticism
to scapegoat
vsto fault
4 4.1

To unfairly blame someone for problems caused by others

is a neutral act of saying responsibility or expressing disapproval
to lay the blame at the feet of (someone)
vsto fault
1 6.9

To say someone caused a problem or is at fault

is less focused on specific targets and may be general criticism
to wite
vsto fault
  • Archaic
9.9

To blame someone for doing something wrong

is broader, also covering general disapproval alongside responsibility

Antonyms

to forgive
∞ 1.4

To stop feeling angry at someone or yourself for a mistake

to excuse
384 2.2

Forgive a fault or bad behaviour

Idioms

at fault
62 3.4

Responsible for causing a problem or mistake and deserving blame

to a fault
13 7.1

Very much of a good quality so it becomes a problem

honest to a fault
  • Informal
1 7.4

Telling the truth even when it causes problems or hurts people

generous to a fault
1 6.4

Very kind in a way that causes problems for the person giving

Phrasal Verbs

to find fault
15 4.4

To say something is wrong or not good, often about small things

Compounds

fault line
  • Specialized
16 4.7

A crack in the ground where the land moves, often causing earthquakes

double fault
  • Jargon
1 2.8

Two bad serves in a row that make the player lose the point

San Andreas Fault
1 4.9

A long crack in the ground in California that causes earthquakes

geological fault
  • Specialized
1 5.0

A crack in the Earth's crust where rock layers move

no fault insurance
  • Specialized
1 4.3

A system where each driver's own plan pays for their crash costs no matter who caused it

normal fault
  • Specialized
1 7.0

A sloping break in the Earth's crust where the upper side moves down past the lower side

thrust fault
  • Specialized
1 8.1

A break in rocks where the top part moves up over the lower part

common fault
  • Specialized
7.8

A break in rock where the top part moves down past the lower part

Denali Fault
  • Specialized
7.9

A long crack in the ground in central Alaska that makes earthquakes

gravity fault
  • Specialized
8.7

A sloping break in rock where the upper block moves down because of its weight

inclined fault
  • Specialized
9.0

A break in the ground where one side moves up at an angle

no fault automobile insurance
  • Specialized
5.6

Car insurance where each driver gets money from their own insurance company after a crash, no matter who caused it

reverse fault
  • Specialized
8.3

A break in rock where one side moves up when the land is pushed together

overthrust fault
  • Specialized
9.6

A break in rock where strong sideways force pushes one rock layer up and over another

strike-slip fault
  • Specialized
7.4

A break in the ground where two rock blocks move past each other horizontally

How Accusatory

to condemn
298 4.0
to accuse
∞ 2.7
to blame
∞ 1.6
to fault
50 4.3
to criticize
701 3.3

Surface Forms

fault infinitive
faulted past
faulted past participle
faulting present participle
faults third person singular

Etymology

Fault comes from Old French faute, from a Latin verb that meant 'to fail', like the English word fail. To fault someone is to say they 'failed' or to blame them, so the verb keeps the sense of pointing to a failure.