Meaning & use
recrimination
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Meaning
nounusually plural
An angry accusation thrown back at someone who has just blamed you, usually as part of a bitter quarrel in which each side blames the other.
Grammar: Most often plural: bitter recriminations. The singular is possible but rarer.
Patterns
- recriminations between people
- recriminations over something
- a recrimination against someone
The meeting ended in angry recriminations about who had lost the contract.
After the defeat, there were bitter recriminations between the coach and the players.
He wanted to fix the problem rather than waste time on recrimination.
Word forms
| plural | recriminations |
|---|
Common combinations
- bitter recriminations
- The divorce was full of bitter recriminations.
- mutual recriminations
- Mutual recriminations made any compromise impossible.
- a tide of recriminations
- The failed launch unleashed a tide of recriminations.
- descend into recriminations
- The talks quickly descended into recriminations.
- without recrimination
- She forgave him without recrimination.
Synonyms and how they differ
- accusation
- An accusation can be a first charge against someone, whereas a recrimination is specifically a counter-charge in reply.
- counterclaim
- Counterclaim is more legal and neutral, while recrimination suggests anger and personal blame.
- blame
- Blame is the general idea of holding someone responsible, but recrimination implies blame flying in both directions.
- reproach
- Reproach is a single expression of disapproval, often quiet or sad, while recriminations are heated and repeated.
Opposites
Word family
- recriminate verb
- to make an accusation in answer to one made against you
- recriminatory adjective
- full of or involving counter-accusations
- incriminate verb
- to make someone seem guilty of a crime
- criminate verb
- a rare older word meaning to accuse
Commonly confused: recrimination or retribution?
recrimination vs retribution
Retribution is punishment given in return for a wrong, while recrimination is only the exchange of blame in words.
Practice
The two partners spent the evening trading ____ about who had mismanaged the money.
Choose one answer.
Recriminations are accusations traded back and forth in a quarrel. Reconciliation is the opposite, a making of peace.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “recrimination”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.