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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

fault

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verb

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
Pasadena’s complaint notes that Edison filed reports with the California Public Utilities Commission stating that a fault was detected on its transmission circuit about the same time the fire started. Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2025 The costly renovation of the Berkeley Memorial Stadium was a consequence of many decades of fault creep on the Hayward fault. Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025
Verb
Firm's recommendations centered around more training The firm did fault a few of the department's actions, notably an Evendale supervisor's decision to pull into the parking lot of a Lockland school building within minutes of elementary school students being dismissed. David Ferrara, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025 The crew members faulted producers for the hiring of armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter last year. Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for fault
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fault
Noun
  • Angela, a choir director and family history consultant for her local church, was first hospitalized on March 6 complaining of dizziness and weakness.
    Christine Pelisek, People.com, 15 July 2025
  • The weakness could be due to the new 30% tariffs that President Donald Trump threatened against the European Union and Mexico over the weekend.
    Jeff Marks, CNBC, 14 July 2025
Noun
  • But when mistakes are punished or hidden, innovation stops in its tracks.
    IESE Business School, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
  • Skull emoji: This emoji is often used to mock someone's mistake or appearance.
    Sherri Gordon, Parents, 21 July 2025
Noun
  • It could be argued that the question was more about accountability than blame.
    John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 17 July 2025
  • Aspirational Luxury Falls In 2025, the luxury market is looking down the barrel at its first major slowdown in 15 years, excepting the Covid years, and BCG puts much of the blame on brands’ overemphasizing the aspirational consumer segment.
    Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Noun
  • Recent precedents from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (which Hawaii is part of) establish that technology companies can be held liable for design defects that create foreseeable risks of harm.
    Tamlyn Hunt, Scientific American, 22 July 2025
  • State law requires plaintiffs to enter a pre-suit process that aims to resolve construction defect claims without resorting to litigation.
    Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 17 July 2025
Noun
  • Data protection policy is typically owned by the chief information security officer (CISO), but the responsibility for migrating to post-quantum cryptography (PQC) extends far beyond the security department.
    Antonio Sanchez, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
  • The season sees Wyle's Dr. Robby shoulder the brunt of responsibility as his ER endures a stressful day, capped off with a mass casualty event that sees resources stretched thin.
    Shania Russell, EW.com, 15 July 2025
Verb
  • Many airlines have long relied on aging computer systems, and the aviation industry has been criticized for failing to modernize swiftly.
    Chad de Guzman, Time, 22 July 2025
  • McKinney ruffled some feathers by publicly criticizing former Giants’ defensive coordinator Wink Martindale in his final season with the Giants.
    Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
Noun
  • Here’s a breakdown of those two failings and their ramifications.
    Eric Siegel, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • At their best, critics are in touch with their own personal strengths and failings, and work as interpreters and contextualizers for the rest of us.
    Charlotte Runcie July 10, Literary Hub, 10 July 2025
Noun
  • Without a robust knowledge foundation, these early wins can mask serious risks—from compliance breaches to costly decision errors.
    Stéphane Donzé, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
  • Pilot error caused the crash, according to a final report from the National Transportation Safety Board.
    Perry Vandell, AZCentral.com, 25 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fault.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fault. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

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