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Definition of faultnext
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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
An electrical fault or arc flash during electrical work inside Baltimore's Patapsco Wastewater Treatment Plant likely caused an explosion that injured three contractors on Tuesday, according to the city's Department of Public Works (DPW). Adam Thompson, CBS News, 10 June 2026 The international team led by University of Bern Earth sciences researcher Liliane Burkhard modeled 1,000 years of earthquake history along these fault systems. Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 10 June 2026
Verb
Anisimova caught her toss, but then double-faulted and lost the game. James Hansen, New York Times, 30 May 2026 But insiders note that there is apparently fault on both sides. K.j. Yossman, Variety, 28 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for fault
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fault
Noun
  • About 50% to 75% of people with NF2 will also develop benign tumors on the brain or along the spine, which can cause symptoms like pain, numbness and weakness.
    Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 9 June 2026
  • Set during World War II, the drama examines the mechanisms of collaboration under the Vichy regime through the lens of a man whose ambition and moral weakness lead him to become complicit in the persecution and deportation of Jews.
    Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 9 June 2026
Noun
  • Ahead, cleaning expert Sofia Martinez, CEO and cleaning expert at Sparkly Maid Austin, and Lea Grandin, social media manager and content creator at AspenClean, explain how to use vinegar to clean your oven, plus the common mistakes to avoid.
    Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 13 June 2026
  • Young people make destructive mistakes and deserve a path back.
    Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 June 2026
Noun
  • If family dynamics feel tender, step back from blame and set a simple house rule that gives you breathing room without closing your heart.
    Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 14 June 2026
  • A lot of the blame can go toward his split-finger, which is living in the middle or top of the strike zone too often.
    Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 12 June 2026
Noun
  • Bangladesh’s ThreadBridge is applying AI directly to factory floors through smart glasses that detect fabric defects in real time, helping manufacturers reduce waste before garments reach the cutting stage.
    Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 8 June 2026
  • These defects propagate through the device layers, degrading electron mobility, increasing leakage current, and shortening device reliability lifetimes.
    Aditya Jadhav, Interesting Engineering, 8 June 2026
Noun
  • Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi appeared to acknowledge Iran's responsibility for the helicopter attack in a statement posted on social media.
    Joey Garrison, USA Today, 10 June 2026
  • The Security Service of Ukraine later claimed responsibility for the assassination.
    David Brennan, ABC News, 9 June 2026
Verb
  • Draper contested the claims and denied all wrongdoing and criticized the Commission on Judicial Performance.
    Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2026
  • The image quickly spread on social media, where some fans criticized the pose as disrespectful while others defended Wembanyama, who is from France.
    Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 14 June 2026
Noun
  • In all these books, animals serve as mirrors, reflecting our personal and societal shortcomings and shame, our hubris, anxiety, and moral failings.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 June 2026
  • Shortly after the theft, Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu accused the Drents Museum of security failings—a claim the museum rejected—amid mounting threats of legal action against the Dutch.
    Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 9 June 2026
Noun
  • Mexico opened the scoring in the ninth minute when Quiñones capitalized on a defensive error by South Africa and fired a shot down the middle, between the legs of goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
    Eduard Cauich, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
  • As each flaw and error in the early development of vaccines became clear, researchers and practitioners responded, fixing problems as they were identified.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Fault.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fault. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.

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