A person who regularly blames others for their own mistakes can be described in several ways, but the terms are not identical. “Blame-shifter” is the clearest general label, while a “scapegoater” specifically puts blame on another person and a “deflector” redirects attention away from their own responsibility.
Blame-Shifting Terms at a Glance
- Blame-shifter
- Scapegoater
- Finger-pointer
- Deflector
- Responsibility-shirker
- Accountability-dodger
- Excuse-maker
- Buck-passer
- Blamer
- Someone who externalizes blame
Which Term Best Fits “Someone Who Blames Others for Their Mistakes”?
- General: “Blame-shifter.”
- Targeting another person: “Scapegoater.”
- Redirecting criticism: “Deflector.”
- Avoiding responsibility: “Buck-passer” or “accountability-dodger.”
- Making excuses: “Excuse-maker.”
Blame-shifter
The clearest general term for someone who moves responsibility from themselves to someone else.
Example: “He’s a habitual blame-shifter who never accepts responsibility when a deadline is missed.”
Scapegoater
Describes someone who unfairly makes another person or group carry the blame for a problem.
Example: “The manager became a scapegoater whenever the team’s results were poor.”
Finger-pointer
An informal term for someone quick to accuse others instead of examining their own role.
Example: “The meeting turned into finger-pointing instead of problem-solving.”
Deflector
Someone who redirects criticism or attention away from their own behavior.
Example: “Whenever she is questioned about the error, she becomes a deflector and changes the subject.”
Responsibility-shirker
A descriptive term for someone who avoids taking responsibility for what they have done.
Example: “He’s a responsibility-shirker who always finds a reason the problem was someone else’s fault.”
Accountability-dodger
Informal but clear, emphasizing avoidance of accountability.
Example: “An accountability-dodger may apologize for the situation without admitting any personal role in it.”
Excuse-maker
Best when the person explains away mistakes rather than directly accusing someone else.
Example: “He’s an excuse-maker who always has a reason the missed target was unavoidable.”
Buck-passer
An idiomatic term for someone who passes responsibility to another person.
Example: “She has a reputation as a buck-passer whenever a difficult decision goes wrong.”
Blamer
A simple informal label for someone who habitually blames other people.
Example: “He’s a blamer who focuses on everyone else’s mistakes before his own.”
Someone who externalizes blame
A neutral descriptive phrase for repeatedly locating the cause of problems outside oneself.
Example: “The pattern can be described as externalizing blame rather than acknowledging personal responsibility.”
Describe the Behavior When You Need to Stay Neutral
In a workplace or formal setting, a behavior-based description is often better than a label: “He tends to attribute mistakes to other people” or “She rarely acknowledges her own role in problems.” This is clearer and less inflammatory.
Avoid Casual Psychological Diagnoses
Blaming other people is a behavior, not a diagnosis. Terms associated with personality disorders are not interchangeable with “blame-shifter” and should not be used as shortcuts for ordinary interpersonal behavior.