What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
accuse
Example
The police accused him of stealing the car. [accused: past tense]
Example
She accused her friend of lying to her. [accused: verb]
blame
Example
Don't blame me for your mistakes. [blame: verb]
Example
He took the blame for the team's loss. [blame: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Blame is more commonly used than accuse in everyday language, as it is more versatile and can be used in a wider range of situations. Accuse is more commonly used in legal contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between accuse and blame?
Both accuse and blame can be used in formal and informal settings, but accuse is more commonly used in legal or official contexts, while blame is more commonly used in everyday language.
