FAULT: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for FAULT?

Need another word that means the same as “fault”? Find 44 synonyms and 30 related words for “fault” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Fault” are: error, mistake, defect, flaw, demerit, break, faulting, fracture, geological fault, shift, failing, deficiency, weakness, shortcoming, fallibility, frailty, infirmity, foible, inadequacy, limitation, flaws, faults, faultiness, irregularity, abnormality, distortion, deformity, malformation, misshapenness, imperfection, snag, blemish, vice, lack, achilles heel, chink in one's armour, responsibility, liability, culpability, blameworthiness, guilt, blame, find fault with, find lacking

Fault as a Noun

Definitions of "Fault" as a noun

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “fault” as a noun can have the following definitions:

• An unattractive or unsatisfactory feature, especially in a piece of work or in a person's character.
• Responsibility for an accident or misfortune.
• (in showjumping) a penalty point imposed for an error.
• (in tennis and similar games) a service of the ball not in accordance with the rules.
• A break or other defect in an electric circuit or piece of machinery.
• An extended break in a rock formation, marked by the relative displacement and discontinuity of strata on either side of a particular plane.
• A wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention.
• The quality of being inadequate or falling short of perfection.
• A crack in the earth's crust resulting from the displacement of one side with respect to the other.
• Equipment failure attributable to some defect in a circuit (loose connection or insulation failure or short circuit etc.
• An imperfection in an object or machine.
• A serve that is illegal (e.g., that lands outside the prescribed area.
• (geology) a crack in the earth's crust resulting from the displacement of one side with respect to the other.
• Responsibility for a bad situation or event.
• (electronics) equipment failure attributable to some defect in a circuit (loose connection or insulation failure or short circuit etc.
• A misguided action or habit.
• (sports) a serve that is illegal (e.g., that lands outside the prescribed area.

Synonyms of "Fault" as a noun (41 Words)

abnormality	Behavior that breaches the rule or etiquette or custom or morality. Miscarriage can be caused by fetal abnormality.
achilles heel	The back part of the human foot.
blameworthiness	A state of guilt.
blemish	A mark or flaw that spoils the appearance of something (especially on a person’s body. Local government is not without blemish.
break	Dance music featuring breakbeats. Those returning to work after a career break.
chink in one's armour	Offensive term for a person of Chinese descent.
culpability	A state of guilt. A level of moral culpability.
defect	A failing or deficiency. This device permits detection of defects in the lungs.
deficiency	Lack of an adequate quantity or number. A budget deficiency of 96 billion.
deformity	An affliction in which some part of the body is misshapen or malformed. Respiratory problems caused by spinal deformity.
demerit	A fault or disadvantage. They discussed the merits and demerits of her novel.
distortion	A shape resulting from distortion. Heavy metal guitar players use vacuum tube amplifiers to produce extreme distortion.
error	(computer science) the occurrence of an incorrect result produced by a computer. Goods dispatched to your branch in error.
failing	A flaw or weak point. His failing the course led to his disqualification.
fallibility	The tendency to make mistakes or be wrong. Technology is not a cure for human fallibility.
faultiness	The state of being defective.
faulting	Equipment failure attributable to some defect in a circuit (loose connection or insulation failure or short circuit etc. He studied the faulting of the earth s crust.
faults	A serve that is illegal (e.g., that lands outside the prescribed area. He served too many double faults.
flaw	A fault or weakness in a person’s character. He had his flaws but he was still a great teacher.
flaws	An imperfection in an object or machine. He had his flaws but he was great nonetheless.
foible	A behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual. They have to tolerate each other s little foibles.
fracture	A diphthong substituted by fracture. Obsidian shows a conchoidal fracture.
frailty	Weakness in character or morals. The increasing frailty of old age.
geological fault	Equipment failure attributable to some defect in a circuit (loose connection or insulation failure or short circuit etc.
guilt	The fact of having committed a specified or implied offence or crime. He remembered with sudden guilt the letter from his mother that he had not yet read.
imperfection	A fault, blemish, or undesirable feature. He accepted me without question in all my imperfection.
inadequacy	A lack of competence. Her feelings of personal inadequacy.
infirmity	The state of being weak in health or body (especially from old age. Old age and infirmity come to men and women alike.
irregularity	Irregular and infrequent or difficult evacuation of the bowels; can be a symptom of intestinal obstruction or diverticulitis. The irregularity of his breathing.
lack	The state of being without or not having enough of something. There is a lack of parking space in the town.
liability	The quality of being something that holds you back. She said the party had become a liability to green politics.
limitation	The quality of being limited or restricted. She knew her limitations better than she knew her worth.
malformation	An affliction in which some part of the body is misshapen or malformed. Malformation of one or both ears.
misshapenness	An affliction in which some part of the body is misshapen or malformed.
mistake	An act or judgement that is misguided or wrong. Make no mistake about his intentions.
responsibility	A form of trustworthiness; the trait of being answerable to someone for something or being responsible for one’s conduct. We expect individuals to take on more responsibility.
shift	The group of people who work during a particular shift. A shift in public opinion.
shortcoming	A fault or failure to meet a certain standard, typically in a person’s character, a plan, or a system. He is so forthright about his shortcomings it s hard to chastise him.
snag	A rent or tear in fabric caused by a snag. Keep an emery board handy in case of nail snags.
vice	A bad or neurotic habit of stabled horses, typically arising as a result of boredom. Vice offends the moral standards of the community.
weakness	The state or condition of being weak. He has a weakness for chocolate.

Usage Examples of "Fault" as a noun

• He knew his own faults much better than she did.
• I could understand his English in spite of his grammatical faults.
• A landscape broken by numerous faults.
• The fault of the keen therapist is to start to intervene during the assessment phase.
• A fire caused by an electrical fault.
• My worst fault is impatience.
• It was his fault she had died.
• The fault plane dips northwards.
• He served too many double faults.
• If books were not selling, it wasn't the fault of the publishers.
• It was John's fault.
• He studied the faulting of the earth's crust.
• They built it right over a geological fault.
• It took much longer to find the fault than to fix it.

Fault as a Verb

Definitions of "Fault" as a verb

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “fault” as a verb can have the following definitions:

• Criticize for inadequacy or mistakes.
• Put or pin the blame on.
• (of a rock formation) be broken by a fault or faults.
• Do wrong.

Synonyms of "Fault" as a verb (3 Words)

blame	Put or pin the blame on. They blame youth crime on unemployment.
find fault with	Come upon after searching; find the location of something that was missed or lost.
find lacking	Come upon, as if by accident; meet with.

Usage Examples of "Fault" as a verb

• The people of Caesarea faulted greatly when they called King Herod a god.
• The continental crust has been thinned and faulted as a result of geological processes.
• Her superiors could not fault her dedication to the job.
• You cannot fault him for the professionalism of his approach.

Associations of "Fault" (30 Words)

blemish	Add a flaw or blemish to make imperfect or defective. Thousands of Web pages are blemished with embarrassing typos.
carelessness	The quality of not being careful or taking pains. Most road accidents are caused by carelessness on the part of motorists.
defect	A shortcoming, imperfection, or lack. Genetic defects.
deficiency	The amount by which something, especially revenue, falls short; a deficit. Water is the critical deficiency in desert regions.
demerit	A fault or disadvantage. They discussed the merits and demerits of her novel.
disadvantage	Put at a disadvantage hinder harm. The pension scheme tends to disadvantage women.
drawback	An amount of excise or import duty remitted on goods exported. The main drawback of fitting catalytic converters is the cost.
error	A failure of a defensive player to make an out when normal play would have sufficed. Spelling errors.
failing	Below acceptable in performance. Pride is a terrible failing.
fallible	Likely to fail or make errors. I m only a fallible human.
flaw	Add a flaw or blemish to make imperfect or defective. There were fundamental flaws in the case for reforming local government.
flawed	Having a blemish or flaw. A flawed hero.
gaffe	A socially awkward or tactless act. His comments are a major diplomatic gaffe.
harm	Cause or do harm to. Smoking when pregnant can harm your baby.
inadequacy	The state or quality of being inadequate; lack of the quantity or quality required. Her feelings of personal inadequacy.
ineptitude	Having no qualities that would render it valuable or useful. The officials displayed remarkable ineptitude.
lapse	Pass gradually into (an inferior state or condition. A lapse of three weeks between letters.
misapprehend	Fail to understand (a person or their words) correctly; misinterpret. They seemed not to mind that their more profound utterances were misapprehended as self help maxims.
misapprehension	A mistaken belief about or interpretation of something. People tried to exchange the vouchers under the misapprehension that they were book tokens.
misconceive	Judge or plan badly, typically on the basis of faulty understanding. Criticism of the trade surplus in Washington is misconceived.
misconstrue	Interpret (a person’s words or actions) wrongly. She misconstrued my remarks.
mistake	To make a mistake or be incorrect. She made the mistake of thinking they were important.
misunderstand	Interpret in the wrong way. Don t misunderstand me I m not implying she should be working.
misunderstanding	Putting the wrong interpretation on. A misunderstanding of the government s plans.
misunderstood	Incorrectly interpreted or understood. He is one of football s most misunderstood men.
negligence	Failure to take proper care over something. His injury was due to the negligence of his employers.
nitpick	Be overly critical; criticize minor details. The state is nitpicking about minor administrative matters.
shortcoming	A fault or failure to meet a certain standard, typically in a person’s character, a plan, or a system. He is so forthright about his shortcomings it s hard to chastise him.
unforced	Not produced by effort; natural. An unforced cheerfulness.
wrong	Treat unjustly do wrong to. Based on the wrong assumptions.