guiltier; guiltiest
1
: justly chargeable with or responsible for a usually grave breach of conduct or a crime
Does the defendant plead guilty or not guilty?
2
a
: suggesting or involving guilt
The children exchanged guilty looks.
b
: aware of or suffering from guilt
guilty consciences
3
obsolete : justly liable to or deserving of a penalty
guiltily adverb
guiltiness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for guilty

blameworthy, blamable, guilty, culpable mean deserving reproach or punishment.

blameworthy and blamable apply to any degree of reprehensibility.

conduct adjudged blameworthy
an accident for which no one is blamable

guilty implies responsibility for or consciousness of crime, sin, or, at the least, grave error or misdoing.

guilty of a breach of etiquette

culpable is weaker than guilty and is likely to connote malfeasance or errors of ignorance, omission, or negligence.

culpable neglect

Examples of guilty in a Sentence

Do you think he's innocent or guilty? Will the defendant plead guilty or not guilty? The children exchanged guilty looks. He was acting like someone with a guilty conscience. There's no need to feel guilty about it.
Recent Examples on the Web For some experts, Mr. Duong’s case, which started amid a diplomatic deep freeze between China and Australia and concluded as relations thawed, raised concerns that he had been effectively found guilty by association. Yan Zhuang, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2024 The League doesn’t usually shy away from punishing those found guilty (after all, there are other owners not excited about being taken advantage of). Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Mar. 2024 If found guilty, Bais could be sentenced to six months in jail and fined up to $2,500. Shawn Raymundo, The Arizona Republic, 16 Mar. 2024 Jennifer's trial was held earlier this year, and she too, was found guilty on four counts of involuntary manslaughter, one for each of the victims. Lindsay Kimble, Peoplemag, 15 Mar. 2024 Gun safety James Crumbley, the father of the teenager who killed four students at a Michigan high school in 2021, was found guilty Thursday of involuntary manslaughter. Alexandra Banner, CNN, 15 Mar. 2024 On June 29, 2022, Reece pleaded guilty and received three life sentences for killing Laura Smither, Jessica Cain, and Kelli Cox. Claire Lempert, ABC News, 15 Mar. 2024 The jury of six men and six women deliberated for nearly 11 hours before finding Crumbley, 47, guilty of all four involuntary manslaughter counts. Kim Bellware, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2024 Jeremy Pauley, 42, of Thompson, pleaded guilty to the charge on Jan. 8, 2023, according to court documents, Fox 43 reports. Kc Baker, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'guilty.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see guilt entry 1

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of guilty was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near guilty

Cite this Entry

“Guilty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/guilty. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

guilty

adjective
guiltier; guiltiest
1
: having done wrong
2
a
: suggesting or involving guilt
a guilty manner
b
: aware of or suffering from guilt
a guilty conscience
guiltily adverb
guiltiness noun

Legal Definition

guilty

1 of 2 adjective
guiltier; guiltiest
1
: having committed a crime : justly charged with a specified crime
guilty of larceny
2
: involving guilt or culpability
guilty knowledge

guilty

2 of 2 noun
1
: a plea of a criminal defendant who does not intend to contest the charges
2
: a verdict of a jury that believes the defendant committed the crime charged compare nolo contendere, not guilty, not guilty by reason of insanity

More from Merriam-Webster on guilty

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