to blame
Deserving the accusation
To blame means deserving responsibility for something bad: The faulty wiring was to blame for the fire.
It functions as a predicate adjective, always following a linking verb.
The phrase assigns fault without requiring an active blamer—the cause simply is to blame.
Who's to blame for this mess?
- accountableObligated to explain oneself
- responsibleObligated to answer for actions
- culpableDeserving of blame
- accusedCharged with wrongdoing
- bad guyAntagonist in stories
chargeable · fault · in the wrong · guilty · confession · conviction · scapegoat · take the fall · finger-pointing · answerable · pass the buck · negligence · liable · incriminated · condemnation · felony · censure · excuse
- at faultguilty, at fault, culpable, responsible, liable
- admissionsapplication, acceptance letter, admissions, application deadline, admissions committee
moral responsibility attribution
to blameinnocent
Free from moral wrong
blameless · guiltless · faultless · in the clear · exonerated
blame, blamed, blameless, blames, blaming, blameworthy, blaspheme, unblamable, unblamed