recrimination

American  

[ri-krim-uh-ney-shuhn] / rɪˌkrɪm əˈneɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act of recriminating, or countercharging.

   Hope gave way to recrimination with both sides claiming the moral high ground.

2. a countercharge.

   The poll suggests that the public is frustrated by the bickering and recriminations.

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recrimination British  

/ rɪˌkrɪmɪˈneɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of recriminating

2. law a charge made by an accused against his accuser; countercharge

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Other Word Forms

• self-recrimination
  noun

Etymology

Origin of recrimination

First recorded in 1580–90; from Middle French, from Late Latin recrimination-, stem of recriminatio “criticism,” equivalent to Medieval Latin recrīmināt(us), past participle of recrīminārī “to accuse in turn” + -iō -ion ( def. ); see recriminate ( def. )

Explanation

Sometimes you accuse your opponent of refusing to compromise and he accuses you of the same thing. That’s a recrimination, an accusation or insult that’s hurled back at someone. If you’ve ever been in a verbal disagreement with someone, odds are that you’ve experienced recriminations. You can remember it by noticing that crim as in "crime" is part of the word. When recriminations fly back and forth between two sides, each accuses the other of crimes in the metaphorical sense. Once the emergencies of a disaster have been taken care of, recriminations are sometimes hurled at those in charge for the way the crisis was handled.

Example Sentences

Since everything these days seems to call for a snappy abbreviation, let’s use HRD, for Hindsight Recrimination Disorder.

From Washington Post • May 5, 2020

Recrimination, indeed, is loudly urged by our sex in Paris; they blame the women, with a view of extenuating their own irregularities, which scarcely know any limits.

From Paris as It Was and as It Is by Blagdon, Francis W.

Recrimination and reproaches were hourly and daily repeated; and the lady usually ended by bursting into tears, and the gentleman by taking his hat and walking out of the house.

From Tales and Novels — Volume 02 by Edgeworth, Maria

"Recrimination of a sort——" "Recrimination is quite some word, no matter what it means," sniffed Terry.

From Man to Man by Gregory, Jackson

Recrimination is the only powerful weapon; and noble minds are ashamed to use this.

From Phases of Faith Passages from the History of My Creed by Newman, Francis William

Related Words

• allegation
• complaint
• denunciation
• impeachment
• indictment