blameworthy

[ bleym-wur-thee ]

adjective

1. deserving blame; blameful:

   a blameworthy administration.

blameworthy

/ ˈbleɪmˌwɜːðɪ /

adjective

1. deserving disapproval or censure

Derived Forms

• ˈblameˌworthiness, noun

Other Words From

• blameworthi·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of blameworthy¹

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; blame, worthy

Example Sentences

They are more likely to be described as blameworthy in some way.

From Time

The idea of violent crimes as a separate universe, categorically more dangerous and blameworthy than other offenses, dates back little more than half a century.

From Time

You can bear to stay in this house which I—I—infinitely less blameworthy than yourself—can hardly endure to enter?

From Project Gutenberg

The being acts according to its nature, and why is it blameworthy more than the brute?

From Project Gutenberg

This sort of aggression was considered by the majority of the representatives an enterprise as blameworthy as it was senseless.

From Project Gutenberg

One man is rich, another poor: let him not be thought blameworthy.

From Project Gutenberg

This vice, however, should not appear as blameworthy as that of avarice.

From Project Gutenberg

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?

• blameful
• blamable
• censurable

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

• blameless 
• blamable
• blamestorm
• blaspheme
• newsworthy

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

• guilty
• accuse
• fault
• at fault
• crime
• mistake
• error

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.”