What to Call Someone Who Blames Others for Their Mistakes? Try These 15 Names
Ever met someone who never takes the blame—like, ever? Yeah, we all have. 🙄 They spill the coffee and blame the dog. Miss a deadline? Suddenly, it’s your fault. It’s exhausting, right?
So what do you call someone like that? Besides a headache, of course. Whether you’re trying to find the perfect word for a passive-aggressive coworker or you’re just genuinely curious (because we all know that one person), I’ve got you covered with 15 spot-on synonyms for someone who blames others for their mistakes.
Buckle up. This isn’t your average thesaurus list. We’re going full petty detective here. 🕵️♂️
1. Blame Shifter
Let’s start simple. This one’s basically the poster child of denial.
A blame shifter points fingers like it’s an Olympic sport. They dodge responsibility faster than you can say “oops.”
Example:
- “Oh, it wasn’t me who forgot to send the email—it was because you distracted me!”
Why it fits:
It literally describes what they do. They shift the blame. Duh.
2. Scapegoater
Ah yes, the scapegoater. Classic move: mess up and shove someone else under the metaphorical bus.
Example:
- “We lost the client because Sarah didn’t CC everyone, not because I missed the meeting.” 🤔
FYI, Sarah is just trying to survive her Monday.
Why it fits:
Scapegoating is the art of assigning fault to someone innocent. It’s dramatic. It’s unfair. It’s textbook blame behavior.
3. Finger Pointer
Finger pointer = instant accountability dodge.
They don’t even blink before finding someone else to pin the blame on. And if you’re nearby? Welp, you’re it.
Example:
- “I didn’t know we had a deadline today! Mike didn’t remind me.”
Why it fits:
The visual alone says it all. Finger. Pointed. Not at themselves.
4. Excuse Maker
Oh boy. These folks come with a buffet of excuses for every slip-up.
Example:
- “My computer froze, the Wi-Fi died, Mercury was in retrograde…”
We get it. Technology failed. Again. 🙄
Why it fits:
They don’t necessarily blame one person, but they refuse to admit it’s them. That’s the real kicker.
5. Deflector
Ever try calling them out? They’ll spin the conversation so hard you forget what you were mad about.
Example:
- “Oh, I forgot to turn in the report? Well, you left the kitchen dirty last week.”
Huh?
Why it fits:
They turn every confrontation into a tangent. Accountability: denied.
6. Gaslighter
Okay, this one’s serious. A gaslighter doesn’t just shift blame. They mess with your reality.
Example:
- “I never said I would handle that. You must be confused.”
Nope. You’re not crazy—they’re just that manipulative.
Why it fits:
This takes blame games to a toxic level. Proceed with caution.
7. Tattletale (in Adult Form)
This one’s sneaky. Grown-up tattletales exist, and they love telling the boss when things go sideways—just not their part in it.
Example:
- “I told James to double-check the order, but he must’ve missed it.”
Translation? “It was James. Not me. Promote me anyway.”
Why it fits:
It’s a passive-aggressive way of pointing blame while pretending to “help.”
8. Drama Magnet
These people don’t just blame others—they make it a soap opera.
Example:
- “This whole department is against me. No one supports my ideas.”
Cue sad music and slow zoom.
Why it fits:
They use blame as a sympathy ploy. Suddenly, they’re the victim—every time.
9. Manipulator
Manipulators are in it to win it—at any cost.
Example:
- “I would’ve done the task, but Karen insisted on handling it.”
Karen: quietly wondering when she signed up for that.
Why it fits:
It’s subtle. It’s smooth. It’s toxic. These folks twist facts so well they should work in PR.
10. Accountability Dodger
Let’s call them what they are: people who actively dodge taking any responsibility.
Example:
- “I wasn’t in charge of that.” (Spoiler alert: they 100% were.)
Why it fits:
It’s descriptive, and it calls them out without being too spicy.
11. Narrative Spinner
These people turn everything into a tale where they’re either the hero—or the helpless victim.
Example:
- “I tried to fix the error, but no one listened to me.”
Oh sure, Steve. You tried.
Why it fits:
They craft stories so they can escape the blame with flair.
12. Martyr Complex Carrier
You know the type: “I’m the only one who cares. I do everything. Poor me.”
Example:
- “I had to do all the work myself, so if there were mistakes, I was overwhelmed.”
Sure, Jan.
Why it fits:
They flip their lack of accountability into a noble sacrifice. Genius. Annoying, but genius.
13. Denier
They didn’t make a mistake. Nope. Didn’t happen. End of discussion.
Example:
- “What error? I don’t remember doing that.”
Classic.
Why it fits:
They live in a blame-proof bubble. Facts don’t stand a chance.
14. Projectionist
Okay, not the movie theater kind. This person projects their flaws onto others.
Example:
- “You’re always forgetting stuff!” (Says the person who just forgot their password again.)
Why it fits:
They accuse others of what they’re guilty of. It’s basically reverse Uno.
15. Energy Vampire
Not a literal bloodsucker—just someone who drains your will to live every time they refuse to take responsibility.
Example:
- Every meeting turns into a blame game where they suck all the productivity out of the room.
Why it fits:
Being around them is exhausting. They thrive on chaos and blame.
Final Thoughts: Know One? Avoid One.
Here’s the deal: blame deflectors come in all forms. Some are obvious. Others are masters of manipulation. Whether they gaslight, guilt-trip, or just flat-out deny reality, they have one thing in common—they avoid accountability like it’s a contagious disease.
Knowing what to call them isn’t just fun (okay, it totally is)—it helps you spot their patterns. And once you know? You can stop playing the blame game they’re trying to drag you into.
So next time someone blames you for something you didn’t do? Just smile, sip your coffee, and think: “Ah yes. A classic Finger Pointer in their natural habitat.” 😉
