fault 1 of 2

noun

ˈfȯlt How to pronounce fault (audio)
Definition of faultnext
1
as in weakness
a defect in character the common fault of being quick to judge others

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2
as in mistake
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy there's a fault somewhere in the program

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3
as in blame
responsibility for wrongdoing or failure getting the time of the performance wrong was entirely my fault

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4
as in defect
something that spoils the appearance or completeness of a thing the minor faults in the leather are entirely natural and are what gives it a look different from vinyl

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5
as in responsibility
the state of being held as the cause of something that needs to be set right the investigator determined that the auto accident was entirely the other driver's fault

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fault

2 of 2

verb

as in to blame
to express one's unfavorable opinion of the worth or quality of you should look at your own work before faulting what others have done

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun fault differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of fault are failing, foible, frailty, and vice. While all these words mean "an imperfection or weakness of character," fault implies a failure, not necessarily culpable, to reach some standard of perfection in disposition, action, or habit.

a writer of many virtues and few faults

When could failing be used to replace fault?

The words failing and fault can be used in similar contexts, but failing suggests a minor shortcoming in character.

being late is a failing of mine

When might foible be a better fit than fault?

Although the words foible and fault have much in common, foible applies to a harmless or endearing weakness or idiosyncrasy.

an eccentric's charming foibles

In what contexts can frailty take the place of fault?

While the synonyms frailty and fault are close in meaning, frailty implies a general or chronic proneness to yield to temptation.

human frailties

When is it sensible to use vice instead of fault?

The synonyms vice and fault are sometimes interchangeable, but vice can be a general term for any imperfection or weakness, but it often suggests violation of a moral code or the giving of offense to the moral sensibilities of others.

compulsive gambling was his vice

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fault
Noun
The app can also relay low battery warnings, faults, and precautionary warnings of low-level carbon monoxide detection. —Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 12 Apr. 2025 The case was settled for $165,000 late last year, with neither side admitting fault. —Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 12 Apr. 2025
Verb
Colorado Department of Transportation officials faulted the study for using old data and leaving out recent efforts to refocus state investments and improve roads. —Bruce Finley, The Denver Post, 15 Mar. 2025 Few could fault Whitesell for seeking a fresh start with a focus on sports and live events. —Peter Kiefer, HollywoodReporter, 26 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fault
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fault
  1. weakness
  2. mistake
  3. blame
  4. defect
  5. responsibility
  6. criticize
  7. failing
  8. error
Noun
  • However, economists say trade deficits aren’t a sign of national weakness.
    — Time, Time, 9 Apr. 2025
  • The visualisations below make clear how Arsenal can attack Madrid’s areas of weakness.
    — Thom Harris, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of weakness
Noun
  • There have been expensive product mistakes and lots of trial and error with brushes, clips, hair dryers….
    — Liz Krieger, Allure, 15 Apr. 2025
  • And unlike misspellings or other mistakes, large swaths of coherent text don’t give the reader clues that the transcriptions could be inaccurate, potentially leading users to use them in high-stakes scenarios without ever finding their failures.
    — Asmelash Teka Hadgu, Scientific American, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of mistake
Noun
  • The conversation should be about building better connections and addressing the real issues that matter to Latino communities, rather than unfairly assigning blame.
    — Jesse Mejia, Hartford Courant, 11 Apr. 2025
  • While Fujimoto can justifiably distance himself from blame, there is another controversy to which he is more intimately tied: the fate of the Grand Ring.
    — Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of blame
Noun
  • With the help of this technology, defects were significantly reduced.
    — Michael Amori, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
  • Doctors later discovered that Figari’s stroke was caused by a previously undetected congenital heart defect called a patent foramen ovale (PFO), in which a hole between the left and right chambers of the heart is left open as opposed to closing after birth, according to Penn Medicine.
    — Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Definition of defect
Noun
  • The strategy is straightforward: invest at least $2,000 in a company's stock to gain shareholder rights, then submit resolutions pushing for corporate responsibility.
    — Doc Louallen, ABC News, 11 Apr. 2025
  • There was a feeling that the country was coming out of a massive crisis and that global institutions had a responsibility to help rebuild the country, strengthen its healthcare system, and make sure an outbreak like this could never happen again.
    — The Dial, The Dial, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of responsibility
Verb
  • The end of the parole program is part of Trump’s crackdown on legal immigration paths that allow people to temporarily come to the U.S. Republicans also criticized the parole program as an overreach and abuse of executive presidential power.
    — Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2025
  • But the officials’ characterization of the shooting posted to the police department’s Facebook page was criticized by many who said the statement’s language downplayed Saturday’s violence.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of criticize
Noun
  • Organizations must stop treating burnout as a personal failing or an unavoidable reality of today’s workplace, and start recognizing it as a systemic issue.
    — William Arruda, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • One major failing has been a slow response to an obvious need for more water storage — either in reservoirs or underground aquifers — to capture winter rains and spring snowmelts as a buffer for dry years.
    — Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2025
Definition of failing
Noun
  • In the last two decades, five helicopters on commercial sightseeing flights have crashed into the Hudson and East rivers due to mechanical failures, pilot errors, or collisions, resulting in 20 fatalities.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025
  • After making 14 unforced errors in 9 games in the opening set, Alcaraz raced to 5-1, 40-0 in the second before again offering Musetti a lifeline with two mistakes that allowed the Italian to get back to 40-40 with a return winner.
    — James Hansen, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
Definition of error

Phrases Containing fault

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faugh
fault
faulted
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Cite this Entry

“Fault.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fault. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on fault

Nglish: Translation of fault for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fault

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