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blame
This word carries a heavy weight of judgment and accusation. It is not a neutral assignment of cause, but a moral or professional condemnation. When you blame someone, you are positioning them as the villain or the failure in a specific scenario. In social dynamics, blame often triggers defensiveness. While "responsibility" can be a positive trait (taking responsibility for a project), "blame" is exclusively negative. It focuses on the mistake rather than the solution, often creating a conflict-driven atmosphere in the workplace or home.
Countable when referring to a specific instance of accusation (e.g., a blame that was unfairly placed). Uncountable when referring to the general concept of responsibility for a mistake (e.g., the blame for the disaster).
Meanings
To assign responsibility for a fault or wrong.
"The manager blamed the intern for the data entry error."
To be responsible for a negative outcome.
"The crash was to blame for the traffic jam."