recriminativeadj.

1593 R. Cosin Apol. for Sundrie Proc. (rev. ed.) ii. vii. 53 The proceeding to the conisance of a crime by way of Exception repulsiue only, or both Repulsiue & Recriminatiue against the Accuser; is done by a partie, that is not to vse such Inscription.

1663 J. Heath Brief Chron. Late Intestine Warr (new ed.) i. 90 The Members at Westminster..voted Sir Lewis Dives a Traytor, for levying War against the Parliament..which was the recriminative temper of those times.

1733 Apol. for Sir R. Sutton 24 However the Use I shall make of this recriminative Observation, will be more obvious and excusable, when I come to examine upon their particular Examinations.

1799 C. F. Volney Wrangling Philosophers 5 The recriminative clamours of an irritated self-love.

1828 R. Southey in Q. Rev. 38 234 That [defence] which rests upon recriminative accusation.

1858 T. Carlyle Hist. Friedrich II of Prussia I. i. iii. 34 Harsh words, mutually recriminative, rising ever higher.

1877 P. J. Bailey Festus (ed. 10) 110 Easily made: their taunts recriminative Resultless.

1935 Daily Messenger (Canandaigua, N.Y.) 15 Mar. 4/1 The senators..ordinarily take the ebb and flow of recriminative speech in the Senate Chamber as a matter of course.

1961 French Rev. 34 305 The night of the flesh generates recriminative self-contempt that only death can transform.

1993 Times 24 Nov. 18/1 Finally, after a bit, the oaths and squeals of recriminative rage.