culpable

adjective

cul·​pa·​ble ˈkəl-pə-bəl How to pronounce culpable (audio)
1
: meriting condemnation or blame especially as wrong or harmful
culpable negligence
The defendant is culpable for her actions.
2
archaic : guilty, criminal
culpableness noun
culpably adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for culpable

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 culpable in a Sentence

They held her culpable for the accident. He's more culpable than the others because he's old enough to know better.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Law enforcement officers who executed the warrants were similarly not culpable of any crime, per prosecutors. Emily Palmer, Peoplemag, 6 Aug. 2024 Maresca and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola cited challenges with the pitch in Columbus, where Caicedo had been culpable for conceding possession in the lead-up to a City goal. Adam Crafton, The Athletic, 6 Aug. 2024 In Scotland, helping someone to die could lead to prosecution for culpable homicide. Harriet Marsden, theweek, 16 Oct. 2024 The industry may be culpable for direct indicators of global warming, but not these indirect killer extremes. Ian Dexter Palmer, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for culpable 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English coupable, from Anglo-French cupable, culpable, from Latin culpabilis, from culpare to blame, from culpa guilt

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of culpable was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near culpable

Cite this Entry

“Culpable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culpable. Accessed 7 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

culpable

adjective
cul·​pa·​ble ˈkəl-pə-bəl How to pronounce culpable (audio)
: deserving blame
culpability noun
culpableness noun
culpably adverb

Legal Definition

culpable

adjective
cul·​pa·​ble ˈkəl-pə-bəl How to pronounce culpable (audio)
: deserving condemnation or blame as wrong or harmful
culpability noun
culpableness noun
culpably adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on culpable

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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