Synonyms and antonyms of To criticize, accuse or blame in British Thesaurus

criticize (verb)

to say what you think is wrong or bad about something

blame (verb)

to say or think that someone or something is responsible for an accident, problem, or bad situation

put yourself down ()

to criticize someone, especially when other people are present, in a way that makes them feel stupid

reproach (verb)

to criticize someone and feel disappointed with them for something they have done

reprimand (verb)

to tell someone officially and in a serious way that something they have done is wrong

find fault with ()

to criticize someone or something, often after deliberately looking for mistakes

rebuke (verb)

formal to tell someone that they have behaved badly. The usual word is tell off.

deride (verb)

formal to criticize someone or something by suggesting that they are stupid, unimportant, or useless

remonstrate (verb)

formal to argue with, complain to, or criticize someone about something

denigrate (verb)

to criticize something in a way that shows you think it has no value at all

slut-shame (verb)

to criticize a woman for any form of sexual behaviour that is disapproved of, such as having more than one sexual partner or wearing sexy clothes

admonish (verb)

formal to tell someone that you do not approve of what they have done

badmouth (verb)

informal to criticize someone or something

beat up ()

to blame or criticize yourself or someone else

boo (verb)

to shout at a speaker or performer, to show that you disagree with them or that you think they are not very good

chastise (verb)

mainly journalism to criticize someone

chide (verb)

mainly literary to criticize someone, or to speak to them in an angry way because you think their behaviour is wrong

correct (verb)

to tell someone that what they have said is not right or true

correct (verb)

to look at a piece of writing and make marks showing where the mistakes are

criticise ()

a British spelling of criticize

damn with faint praise ()

to praise someone or something with such a lack of enthusiasm that it is obvious you do not think they are at all good

derogate (verb)

formal to say unpleasant things about someone or something that show you have no respect for them

do down ()

to criticize someone in a way that makes them seem stupid or unsuccessful

dump on ()

to treat someone in an unfair way, especially by criticizing or blaming them for something

fat-shame (verb)

to criticize someone for being overweight, especially publicly

fault (verb)

to find something bad or wrong in a person or thing

fuss at ()

to annoy someone by frequently complaining to them about something that they do

get after (American)

American to keep criticizing someone because they have not done something

get at (British)

Britishinformal to criticize someone again and again in a way that is unfair

get down on ()

to keep criticizing someone or something

give someone a hard time ()

to be unpleasant to someone, or to criticize them a lot

go on at ()

to criticize someone regularly or for a long time

haul someone over the coals ()

to speak angrily to someone because they have done something wrong. The American expression is rake someone over the coals.

hold someone responsible/accountable/liable ()

to believe that someone is responsible for something

implicate (verb)

to make something seem likely to be the cause of something bad

judge (verb)

to criticize someone because you think their moral behaviour is not very good

jump down someone’s throat ()

to suddenly speak very angrily to someone, in a way that seems unfair

kick someone when they are down ()

to attack or criticize someone when they are already in a weak position

knock (verb)

informal to criticize someone or something in a way that seems unfair

lay the blame/responsibility (for something) on ()

to say that someone or something deserves to be considered responsible for something that has happened

lecture (verb)

showing disapproval to talk to someone seriously in order to criticize them or warn them about something, especially when this is annoying

mouth off ()

to give your opinions about something in a very annoying way, especially when you are complaining or criticizing something

nag (verb)

to frequently criticize someone, often for qualities or habits that are difficult to change

niggle (verb)

to argue with someone or criticize them about something unimportant

nitpick (verb)

to criticize small unimportant details of something in a way that annoys other people

pick holes in something ()

to try and make an idea or piece of work seem bad by finding all the things that are wrong or missing

pick on someone your own size ()

to keep treating someone badly or unfairly, especially by criticizing them

pick something to pieces ()

to mention all the bad features of something and make it seem generally bad

pick up on ()

to correct someone who has made a mistake, or to criticize them for doing something wrong

pin on ()

to blame someone for something, often when they are not responsible

pitch into ()

to start attacking or criticizing someone

point the/a finger (at someone) ()

to accuse someone or suggest that they are guilty of something bad

pull someone up on something ()

to criticize someone about something they are not doing well enough

pull something to pieces/apart/to bits ()

to show very clearly that what someone has said or written is badly done or not true

put/stick the boot in ()

to criticize or unfairly attack someone who is already in a difficult position

rap (verb)

mainly journalism to criticize someone

rap someone on/over the knuckles ()

to criticize someone, usually in a formal way

reprove (verb)

formal to criticize or blame someone for doing something wrong or bad

rubbish (verb)

British to criticize someone or something by saying that they are wrong, stupid, or useless

run down ()

to criticize someone, especially in an unfair way

satirise ()

a British spelling of satirize

satirize (verb)

to use satire as a way of criticizing people or things and making them seem silly

scapegoat (verb)

to make someone a scapegoat

second-guess (verb)

American to criticize someone

shoot/blame/kill the messenger ()

to blame the person who brings bad news, even though it is not their fault

sit in judgment ()

to criticize someone, especially when you have no right to do so

sit/stand in judgment /on/over someone ()

to criticize someone in a way that shows you think you are better than they are

slag off ()

to criticize someone or something

slap down ()

to criticize or disagree with someone, or to make them feel that what they are saying is useless

sling off ()

to blame or criticize someone in an unpleasant, unkind way

sniff (verb)

to criticize something, or to suggest it is not good enough for you

snipe (verb)

to criticize someone

speak to ()

to talk to someone who has done something wrong in an effort to persuade them to improve their behaviour

start on (informal)

informal to begin to criticize or complain about someone or something

stigmatise ()

a British spelling of stigmatize

stigmatize (verb)

to treat a particular type of behaviour as wrong or embarrassing and to try to make people who behave in this way feel ashamed

strike back ()

to attack, harm, or criticize someone who has attacked, harmed, or criticized you

strike out ()

to criticize someone or something, especially in a speech, interview, or article

take a pot shot at (informal)

informal to criticize someone or something in an unfair way

talk down ()

to talk about someone or something in a way that makes people think they are not as good as they really are

talk to ()

to tell someone that they have done something wrong and that you are angry or dissatisfied about it

target (verb)

to criticize or to work against a particular person or group that you oppose

tax with ()

to accuse someone of doing something wrong

throw off at ()

to criticize someone in an unkind or unfair way

weigh into ()

to start to criticize or blame someone angrily