blameless

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "blameless" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use the word "blameless" when you want to describe someone who has done no wrong or is innocent in a situation. For example, "After reviewing the evidence, the jury found the accused to be blameless."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Perhaps Dehap leaders were trying to avoid Mr Fidan's fate police say he was killed by the PKK.This is not to say that Ankara is blameless.

The Economist

Central banks can step in by raising interest rates to kill the boom but that inflicts collateral damage on the rest of the economy, which may be blameless.

The Economist

With no resident western journalists left on the island (a German correspondent was recently expelled) and little public accountability, Bahrain's courts and prisons have a pretty free hand.In this section Bahrain's spreading flames Brutal seventh Another go at reviving the UN Partitioned city ReprintsNeither side is blameless.

The Economist

That appals Team Obama, though not because Americans are blameless.

The Economist

Republican opposition, based on a misguided aversion to government spending and political sour grapes, is short-sighted in the extreme.Nor, though, are the Democrats blameless.

The Economist

The gap is wide enough for a country like Greece to fall through.Markets are not blameless.

The Economist

No literary imagination was more daring than that of JG Ballard, who lived in blameless Shepperton all his adult life.

The Guardian - Opinion

So, in a sense, they were, but they were not dealing with a business proposition - they were concerned with murder, with the incalculable loss of blameless life".

The Guardian

It is now standard for architectural anoraks like myself to find ourselves challenged by smile-less security as we go about our blameless business – no loitering, no photography, no looking, as if al-Qaida scouts would do their dastardly work in this way or as if, years after the invention of the camera phone, photography can be controlled as it could in the age of the tripod.

The Guardian - Arts

Is a place like Twitter (to choose an obviously successful and public platform) blameless if someone uses it for evil, or does it have a right – and a duty – to put its foot down?

The Guardian - Opinion

In fact, the allusion is rather defamatory to Jefferies as, unlike him, Böll's heroine actually is a murderer and never reclaims her name, although it's true that the person she kills is a tabloid journalist, which even the blameless Jefferies may at times have felt tempted to do.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "blameless" when you want to emphasize the complete absence of responsibility or fault in a situation. This is stronger than simply saying someone is 'not guilty'.

Common error

Avoid using "blameless" in situations where responsibility is shared or where the situation is nuanced. Using "blameless" in such cases can oversimplify the situation and ignore contributing factors.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "blameless" is as an adjective. It modifies a noun to indicate that the noun is free from blame or fault. Ludwig provides numerous examples where "blameless" describes a person, entity, or action, highlighting their lack of culpability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "blameless" is an adjective that describes something or someone free from blame or fault. According to Ludwig, it functions to absolve or exonerate, commonly appearing in news and media contexts. While grammatically correct and widely used, it's important to use "blameless" judiciously, particularly in complex scenarios where responsibility is shared. Alternative phrases, such as "without fault" or "free from guilt", can provide nuanced expressions of a similar meaning. Ludwig's AI confirms the correctness of this word, also providing useful examples.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

without fault

Focuses on the absence of errors or imperfections.

free from guilt

Emphasizes the absence of culpability in a legal or moral sense.

irreproachable

Highlights conduct that is beyond criticism or reproach.

unimpeachable

Stresses that someone's integrity or actions cannot be doubted.

beyond reproach

Similar to "irreproachable" but with a stronger emphasis on being above any suspicion.

not culpable

A more formal way of saying not responsible or guilty.

in the clear

Implies being free from suspicion or danger.

exonerated

Suggests being officially cleared of blame or wrongdoing.

vindicated

Highlights being proven right or justified after being doubted.

without blemish

Focuses on the absence of any flaws or imperfections, not just in conduct but also in character or reputation.

FAQs

How can I use "blameless" in a sentence?

You can use "blameless" to describe someone or something that is free from blame or fault. For example, "The investigation concluded that the company was "free from blame" in the accident."

What are some synonyms for "blameless"?

Alternatives to "blameless" include "innocent", "irreproachable", "faultless", and "without fault". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to say "blameless" or "not guilty"?

"Blameless" implies a complete absence of fault or responsibility, whereas "not guilty" simply means that there was insufficient evidence to prove guilt. "Blameless" is a stronger statement.

What's the difference between "blameless" and "innocent"?

"Innocent" typically refers to someone who did not commit a crime or wrongdoing. "Blameless" can also refer to situations where someone is not responsible for an accident or failure, even if no crime was committed. "Blameless" focuses more on responsibility.