Phrase guide

find fault

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To criticize something excessively.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, intransitive, often

Examples

  • No matter what I do, he always finds fault.
  • My supervisor always finds fault with my work.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

harass with constant criticism

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Don't always pick on your little brother

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: blame, pick

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: knock, criticize, criticise, pick apart

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

25 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 挑錯 /挑错 (tiāocuò) — criticize excessively
  • Chinese Mandarin: 挑剔 (tiāoti) — criticize excessively
  • Chinese Mandarin: 找岔子 (zhǎo chàzi) — criticize excessively
  • Esperanto: kritiki — criticize excessively
  • Finnish: olla sanomista — criticize excessively
  • French: pinailler — criticize excessively
  • Hungarian: kifogásol — criticize excessively
  • Hungarian: beleköt — criticize excessively
  • Hungarian: akadékoskodik — criticize excessively
  • Irish: faigh locht ar — criticize excessively
  • Japanese: 咎める (togameru) — criticize excessively
  • Japanese: 揚げ足を取る (ageashi-o toru) — criticize excessively
  • Latin: incūsō — criticize excessively
  • Māori: whakakoha — criticize excessively
  • Polish: krytykować — criticize excessively
  • Polish: skrytykować — criticize excessively
  • Russian: придира́ться (pridirátʹsja) — criticize excessively
  • Russian: придра́ться (pridrátʹsja) — criticize excessively
  • Tày: bỏn — criticize excessively
  • Telugu: తప్పుపట్టు (tappupaṭṭu) — criticize excessively
  • Thai: จับผิด (jàp-pìt) — criticize excessively
  • Turkish: hatalı bulmak — criticize excessively
  • Turkish: aşırı eleştirmek — criticize excessively
  • Turkish: kulp takmak — criticize excessively
  • Vietnamese: bắt bẻ — criticize excessively