recriminate

Recriminate is a verb that describes the act of responding to an accusation or criticism by making a counteraccusation or by leveling a similar accusation against the original accuser. It signifies a mutual exchange of blame or fault-finding within a dispute or conflict. When one person recriminates, they are essentially saying, "You're accusing me, but you're also guilty of the same thing or something equally bad." This action often serves to deflect blame, justify one's own actions, or to demonstrate that the accuser is not blameless. The term can be applied in various contexts, from personal arguments and interpersonal relationships to legal proceedings and political debates. The core of recrimination lies in the retort of blame for blame, shifting the focus from the initial transgression to the accuser's own shortcomings. It is a common defensive tactic used to neutralize criticism by highlighting hypocrisy or shared culpability.