deflection of responsibility

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "deflection of responsibility" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone is avoiding accountability or shifting blame to another party. Example: "His constant deflection of responsibility made it difficult for the team to trust him during the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Under the sway of their opium habits, both men resorted to deception and the deflection of responsibility.

The New York Times - Books

In the process, she most likely broke federal law, while showing a "near total deflection of responsibility," the panel concluded.

The New York Times

And then I said, 'I'm negative about two things: the deflection of responsibility, and the quality of decisions.' He said he took responsibility all the time.

The New Yorker

Clinton herself, in a creative stroke of deflection of responsibility for her role in the events of the last twelve years, argued that terrorism is simply a long-running problem in that part of the world.

The New Yorker

The deflection of responsibility was reminiscent of earlier attempts to make an unidentified "junior official" a scapegoat for losing millions of citizens' tax details.As excuses go, owning up to ineptitude can appear refreshingly honest.

The Economist

A second recent twist in the U.S.-China relationship reflects Washington's longstanding penchant for blaming others for problems of its own making, a deflection of responsibility that also fits the classic diagnostics of the psychologist.

Yale University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

At this point, the deflection of responsibilities has occurred from three sides.

Vice

Why are you making me do this?!" But then the rest of the time she's grinding into their faces and is all very public-sex-fucking-YEAH, which makes that one moment of responsibility deflection look false.

Vice

They noticed a seeming complete lack of urgency, a lack of responsibility taken for the crashes, and the deflection of blame.

Forbes

"I can only talk about what I know". With an exaggerated shrug, he added: "That's life". If such deflections did not make things clear enough, the secretary spelled out his philosophy of responsibility in a podium-thumping soliloquy.

The Washington Post

"Of responsibility".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When analyzing organizational behavior, use "deflection of responsibility" to highlight instances where individuals or groups avoid taking ownership of failures or mistakes.

Common error

Don't use "deflection of responsibility" when you mean delegation. Deflection implies avoidance; delegation means assigning tasks appropriately.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "deflection of responsibility" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as the object of a verb or preposition. It describes the act of avoiding or redirecting blame or accountability. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "deflection of responsibility" describes avoiding accountability, often by shifting blame. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically correct and usable in various contexts, primarily news and media, and academia. While alternatives like "shifting the blame" or "evasion of accountability" exist, "deflection of responsibility" is suitable for formal analysis when describing behavior that avoids ownership. Remember not to confuse it with delegation, which implies assigning tasks, not evading accountability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shifting the blame

Highlights the act of transferring blame to someone else.

passing the buck

An idiomatic expression for transferring responsibility.

evasion of accountability

Focuses on avoiding being held accountable.

circumventing responsibility

Focuses on finding ways to get around being responsible.

rejection of accountability

Focuses on a firm refusal to be held accountable.

avoidance of ownership

Emphasizes a lack of taking responsibility.

shedding responsibility

Suggests actively getting rid of responsibility.

abdication of duty

Suggests a formal renunciation of responsibility.

denial of obligation

Emphasizes a refusal to acknowledge responsibility.

disclaiming liability

Highlights the legal aspect of avoiding responsibility.

FAQs

How can I use "deflection of responsibility" in a sentence?

You can use "deflection of responsibility" to describe situations where someone avoids taking ownership of a mistake or task. For example, "The manager's constant deflection of responsibility led to a lack of accountability within the team."

What's a more formal synonym for "deflection of responsibility"?

A more formal synonym for "deflection of responsibility" could be "evasion of accountability", which implies a more deliberate attempt to avoid being held responsible.

How does "deflection of responsibility" differ from "sharing responsibility"?

"Deflection of responsibility" implies an avoidance of blame, while "sharing responsibility" suggests a collaborative approach to handling a task or outcome. They are opposite concepts.

What are some other ways to describe "deflection of responsibility"?

Alternatives to "deflection of responsibility" include "shifting the blame", "passing the buck", or "avoidance of ownership", each emphasizing a slightly different aspect of avoiding accountability.